Innovating Imagination: GCCI Announces Winners of Student Art Competition
What does collaboration and innovation look like to YCP students?
This was the central question posed by the Graham Center for Collaborative Innovation (GCCI) in a call for art submissions for a new student space in Diehl House. To connect with YCP’s many talented artists, the GCCI partnered with Jim Howard, an art teacher from Central York High and his students, to facilitate the competition.
In late March, they put out a call to students – regardless of year or major – inviting them to create pieces that explored themes of collaboration, creation, and community. Artists were encouraged to think outside the box, using symbolism, abstraction, and a focus on the inherent human connections that come with collaboration. Each artist was challenged to use only YCP colors and imagery to represent the themes and goals of the GCCI. Rather than traditional imagery like gears or lightbulbs, artists needed to find new ways to represent the mission of the Center.
The competition received a number of creative, unique, and innovative submissions. The pieces explored themes of humanity, growth, and collaboration, with styles ranging from typography to art nouveau. After a careful review process, Mr. Howard’s students selected four winners:
“Innovate, Collaborate, Success.” by Ally Garner
“Collaborative Creativity” by Emma Homan
“Patterns of Growth” by Summer Brooks
“Leaving Our Mark. Together” by Grace Lehr
Over the coming weeks, each winner will work with Mr. Howard to scale their designs to 32” × 48” canvas installations for display in Diehl House. In addition to seeing their work featured prominently on campus, each artist will receive a $300 award and be honored at a formal reception to mark the official opening of the space in Fall 2026.
The GCCI congratulates the winners and thanks everyone who submitted artwork!