(Photo by New World School of the Arts)
Earning yet another U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts this year, New World School of the Arts (NWSA) once again brings the coveted distinction home.
Adriana de la Torre, from the visual arts division at NWSA, submitted two YoungArts portfolios in two disciplines and was a Visual Arts Finalist. Adriana will have the opportunity to invite a professor from New World School of the Arts to join her as she travels to Washington, DC, June 18-20, to receive her award on behalf of the President of the United States.
She will have her artwork displayed in the Hall of Nations in an exhibition created by this year’s recognized visual artists and writers during the ceremony.
“I am just grateful to be a part of this amazing recognition, and owe it all to the incredible support and guidance I’ve received from my teachers at New World School of the Arts,” Adriana said.
With an impressive resume that boasts an exceptional grade point average, countless volunteer hours, involvement in myriad organizations and clubs, and remarkable leadership skills, Adriana was offered more than $2 million in scholarships over four years to attend respected colleges and universities around the nation, including Maryland Institute College of Arts, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Parsons, Tufts, and California Institute of the Arts, among others.
After careful consideration, she decided to attend New York City’s The Cooper Union, ranked by US News and World Report in 2017 as No.1 in Regional Colleges North.
Adriana, who plans to major in Fine Arts, explained, “I want to analyze the jointly constructed understandings of the world we live in, break them down to their constituents, and rebuild them. Cooper will mercilessly challenge me, and has historically pushed their students onto a higher plane of thought. I was immediately attracted to their professionalism and the quality of work of their alumni.”
An academically and artistically accomplished student, Adriana’s merits include much more than her remarkable GPA of 5.9, which places her among the top 5 percent of her class, or the numerous artistic merits she has achieved, or the noteworthy distinctions she has received through the years — including this prestigious Presidential Scholar in the Arts award.
Adriana also is the recipient of the Scholastic Gold Key Portfolio award for two different portfolios and has taken dual enrollment, AP and Online AP courses, attended a summer pre-college, art program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City before her junior year and had an internship with a photography studio last summer in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
A daughter of an immigrant father from Mexico and grandparents from Japan, she speaks fluent English, Spanish and French and cooks with gourmet flair. In addition, she is a high platform diver (30 feet), has her boat captain’s license, skippered a Boston Whaler in Key Biscayne, was a boat deckhand on a 26-foot flats boat, used to run six miles a day and taught arts and crafts to pediatric oncology patients.
Adriana reads 18th Century Russian Philosophy and loves abstract Dutch photography.
“Everything Adriana does, she does with passion, commitment, care and kindness,” said NWSA visual arts teacher Jennifer Gifford. “She has an incredible work ethic and tremendous self-discipline.
For information about New World School of the Arts, call 305-237-3135 or visit nwsa.mdc.edu.
