Celebration of Excellence Event Set for Sept. 25 to Honor Hall of Fame Recipients
“The College of Fine Arts Celebration of Excellence honors our incoming Hall of Fame class. It is a moment for reflection, for sharing, and for celebrating the profound impact the arts have on our lives,” said Bruce Kelley, Ph.D., dean of the College of Fine Arts. “This event connects USD’s remarkable artistic heritage with the promise and achievement of our current students, bridging generations through creativity and excellence.”
The Celebration of Excellence is hosted in honor of the College of Fine Arts Class of 2026 Hall of Fame recipients. This year’s recipients have impacted the fine arts in significant ways. Recipients include the following:
- Brian Mann ’01
- Courtland “Skip” Swenson ’58
- Sara Steever ’84
- Larry Johnson ’73 and Mary Jo Johnson* ’73
- Graham Thatcher* ’66 and Anna Marie Thatcher ’72
- Ray T. Devilbiss*
*Indicates posthumously.
Hall of Fame recipients will receive a custom award. They will be recognized with brass nameplates on the sculpture honor wall east of the John A. Day Gallery in the Warren M. Lee Center for Fine Arts, with a reception immediately to follow.
The Celebration of Excellence event is free and open to the public, with registration details available on the event webpage.