KENT ISLAND —In an unprecedented feat, Rain Diederichs has secured her place in history within Queen Anne’s County Public Schools (QACPS) becoming the first student ever selected by the National Art Education Association (NAEA) as the 2024 Rising Star award recipient. This outstanding achievement marks a significant milestone for Rain, for the art program at KIHS, and for QACPS.
Set to receive public acclaim as “Rising Star” at the 2024 NAEA National Convention in Minneapolis, MN, Rain’s accolades extend beyond mere recognition. She will also be granted a 4-year complimentary NAEA student membership, and a 1-year, first-year professional membership once she is gainfully employed within an arts education field.
Fine Arts Supervisor Michael Bell expressed the magnitude of Rain’s accomplishment, stating “This award is presented to just a small select number of National Art Honor Society students from across the entire country, and some years it’s only one! This is simply tremendous, and she’s so talented and deserving of this honor.”
Nominated by Mrs. Schulte for this esteemed award, Rain finds herself under the mentorship of a seasoned advocate for student success. Mrs. Schulte, recognized for breaking the one million mark in students earning scholarships under her leadership last year, will join Bell in Minneapolis to celebrate Rain’s outstanding achievement. Schulte, honored as the 2023 Maryland Secondary Art Educator of the Year and QACPS 2023 Teacher of the Year, has played a pivotal role in cultivating a thriving environment for visual arts at Kent Island High.
In a statement provided to the NAEA, Rain reflected on the profound impact of her art in her life, expressing, “Art has always been an important part of my life.” And now, all Rain can think about is going to an art school and making this her life. She explains, “That is solely due to the art teachers at my high school who put their faith in me.” She also shared that her experiences as President of the KIHS National Art Honor Society has allowed her to make positive changes in her community through art, and has not only made her a better artist, but “a better person”.
“What truly sets Rain apart from her peers is her unwavering commitment to evolving,” said Mrs. Schulte. “Rain is the type of student artist who constantly pushes boundaries, experiments with different styles and techniques, and fearlessly delves into new artistic territories and seeks opportunities for growth.”
Highlighting Rain’s transformative summer experience at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Pre-College Art and Design Residency Program, Schulte emphasized the impact on Rain’s current AP Drawing portfolio.
“MICA’s summer program is arguably one of the most challenging and rewarding opportunities for a rising high school senior artist,” said Schulte. “Rain had a truly transformative experience with like-minded peers which certainly pushed her skills and reaffirmed ‘her why’. Her current Sustained Investigation for her AP Drawing portfolio has most definitely been inspired specifically by the life drawing intensive at MICA and I’m excited to see where this year’s inquiry takes her.”
The eligibility criteria for the NAEA’s Rising Star award include high school students in their junior or senior years with a keen interest in becoming art educators. Nominees must be in their junior or senior year at both the time of nomination and the award presentation, underscoring the significance of Rain’s achievement in the national spotlight.