Herron students make IU Indy's Top 10 and Top 100 lists

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Herron student Min Durham smiling in front of a banner that says IU Indianapolis Top 100 — IU Indianapolis Top 10 recipient Min Durham.

Each year, the IU Indianapolis Office of Alumni Relations celebrates the outstanding achievements of 100 juniors and seniors on IU Indianapolis' campus.

Herron students Sofia Castillo Samperio, Kelsey Conner, Leah Hanfland, and Valentine Nikolayev are on the Top 100 list. Each of these students demonstrated their committment to academic excellence, campus leadership, and community engagement throughout their time at IU Indianapolis.

From the Top 100 list, ten seniors are chosen for the Top 10 list. Min Durham, who will graduate this May with a B.A. in Art History and a museum studies certificate, is one of IU Indianapolis’ Top Ten seniors.

Learn more about the secrets to each of these students' successes and their post-graduation plans.

Min Durham

HERRON: Do you have any advice for a junior or a senior who's thinking about self-nominating or who's been nominated for the Top 100?

MIN DURHAM: If you’re thinking about applying, or someone wants to nominate you, I would attend the information session they have about Top 100. Attending that session really helped me know what they’re looking for—they break it down and give tips for your personal statement and examples of what they want to see.

The other advice I have is just focusing on what you’ve done throughout your academic journey at IU Indianapolis in terms of being a leader or a mentor. They want to know how you do in the classroom, but they’re also interested in the ways that you impact the community.

The personal statement has a strict word limit, so I think it’s also important to narrow your story down so that it’s as authentic as you are.

HERRON: What is your leadership and community engagement story?

MIN DURHAM: I am a Norman Brown Scholar, and have been a peer mentor for three years. I’m mentoring incoming freshmen and helping them navigate their journey from high school to college.

A lot of my leadership is community-focused. My background is in art history and I love museums, so I did a lot of volunteering at small arts organizations and museums like the Harrison Center.

I think it’s important to be intentional with what kind of leader you want to be. So I’m volunteering to benefit the community, but I’m doing it in an area where I want to be working.

HERRON: What do you most appreciate about your time at Herron?

MIN DURHAM: Higher education is not something everyone gets to do, so I’m grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Earning this degree has given me lots of opportunities and has allowed me to really extend my skills.

I’m so thankful for the community I’ve built here at Herron and in the School of Liberal Arts’ museum studies program. I’m thankful for the relationships I’ve built with faculty and staff at Herron. Pam Hacker is my advisor, and she’s helped me throughout my academic journey. Every time something weird would happen, I’d be like, “Pam, how do I fix this?” And then she would fix it!

I had Professor Jennifer Lee for my freshman art history class, and I’ve taken her classes multiple times. She is just so invested in teaching and passionate about her job. When I started at Herron I was a photography major, but after an art history intro course, I wanted to switch majors and she helped me figure that out. She’s been really impactful to me and a lot of other students here.

I went on a study abroad with Laura Holzman, and I got to know her academic pathway and the work she does for the Museum Studies program and Herron. She’s so knowledgeable and her way of teaching and public engagement is kind of the career path I want to get into. So she’s been really influential and very supportive. Every time something good or exciting happens to me, she’ll reach out to say, “Congratulations!” and it makes me feel special.

Sofia Castillo Samperio

Sofia Castillo Samperio is a junior majoring in Visual Communication Design (VCD) with a concentration in graphic design who plans to pursue an M.B.A. in marketing.

Sofia says that the faculty, staff and fellow students at Herron have had a great influence on her as a designer: "They have helped me obtain a sense of belonging and create a strong identity." She is grateful for the Herron and the VCD program as well, saying, "From Herron's Career Services events to daily critiques during foundation classes, the VCD program and Herron have helped me create a strong portfolio which has opened up many great opportunities for me."

Her advice to current students thinking about going for the Top 100 list next semester is: "Apply! Even if you nominate yourself, don't hesitate or doubt. Go for it!"

Kelsey Conner

Kelsey Conner is a junior sculpture major with a minor in book arts. After graduation, she'd like to pursue an M.F.A. in sculpture, and is excited to continue her career as an artist and arts instructor.

Herron has provided many life lessons to Kelsey that she will remember as she develops her artistic career. She says, "Critiques and feedback have continued to keep me humble and receptive to constructive criticism...Furthermore, Herron has provided me the space to discover myself and my artistic practice." She's grateful to Herron for teaching her how to pursue opportunities in sculpture and the book arts that have built up her resumé.

Kelsey advises students hoping to get into the Top 100 that they should never be afraid to introduce themselves to faculty members: "Putting yourself out there is scary, but necessary for growth. Also, always apply if you can! Don't be the first person to tell yourself you don't deserve an opportunity."

Leah Hanfland

Leah Hanfland is currently an Art Education major with a minor in Spanish. After she graduates, Leah plans to be an art educator at the elementary or high school level.

She says that Herron has prepared her well for her career as a teacher as well as an artist by offering a wide variety of learning opportunities as well as a strong community to lean on.

Leah's advice to anyone thinking about applying to be in the Top 100 is: "Be confident and don't forget to highlight your unique strengths!"

Valentine Nickolayev

Valentine Nickolayev is a Visual Communications Design (VCD) major who would love to pursue a career at an art museum as a graphic designer.

One of the things Valentine appreciates about Herron is the welcoming and engaging environment created by the collaboration between Herron faculty and students. He says, "It really feels like a little community where everyone knows each other." Valentine reports that these connections make it possible for him to work on projects that he never would have envisioned before coming to Herron.

Valentine has great advice for Herron sophomores and juniors thinking about going for the Top 100: "Make sure you do something you're excited or engaged with on a fulfilling level." He notes that simply by being interested and invested in his work, he was able to catch the attention of the list makers.

Herron School of Art + Design