Meet Herron's 2018 Top 100 recipients

Each year, the IUPUI Office of Alumni Relations honors 100 outstanding undergraduate students for their excellence in academics, campus leadership, and community engagement with the Top 100 award. In the mix this year are four Herron students who will be honored at the 15th annual Top 100 Outstanding Students Recognition Dinner on April 13, 2018.

Keep an eye on Jordan Nelsen, Haley Francis-Halstead, Megan Smith, and Sydney Patberg as they carve their own paths and pursue meaningful careers in art and design.

She has also contributed to an innovative project with IU School of Dentistry at IUPUI as one of two digital designers on the team that's helping to design realistic features for people living with a range of disfigurements due to cancers, congenital disorders, traumas, and burns. So far, she has worked on 16 of the team's patient cases.

While enrolled in a 3D printing and digital prototyping class at SOIC, she met Dr. Travis Bellicchi, the project's team leader and a fourth-year maxillofacial prosthodontics resident in the IU School of Dentistry.

"I was working on sculpting characters and creatures with the entertainment industry in mind while he was working on using the same programs for dentistry," says Nelsen. "When we started chatting, we discussed a possible collaboration using my skill set."

Working on Dr. Bellicchi's team was a transformative experience, opening her eyes to the powerful application of visual media in medical fields. Nelsen explains, "I discovered a unique way to help people that I hadn't previously considered."

After graduation, Nelsen plans to continue applying her creative skills to improve people's quality of life. "Being able to help patients throughout the past two years of my academic career has been life changing," she reflects. "I can't imagine my future without this work."

"Anything I explore connects back to my passion for helping others and making an impact — whether it's big or small," explains Francis-Halstead.

A variety of interests, such as typography and vlogging, have helped broaden her portfolio as well as her academic experiences. In fact, some of her most popular YouTube videos recap her last summer's adventures during the IUPUI study abroad trip "Japan: Biology, Design, and History of Japanese Gardens."

Francis-Halstead's modus operandi is changing the world with one good story, one person at a time. In her words, "My goal as a designer is to solve problems with creative solutions that create impact." After graduation, she looks forward to traveling and pursuing a career in visual production and art/creative direction.

In addition, she has studied abroad four times, traveling across Europe and China. "My international experiences all started with Herron's 'Exploring Art in Central Europe' program in the summer of 2016. I keep coming back to those fantastic memories, friendships, and personal revelations," says Smith, who worked as an outreach ambassador with the Study Abroad Office during her junior year.

What's next for her after graduating this spring? Smith's answer is simple: "Finding a studio to continue my studio practice," which will allow her to explore interests in ceramics, book arts, and printmaking as well as digital fabrication tools and techniques. She is also considering post-baccalaureate, certificate, and M.F.A. programs to advance her craft.