Illustration Students Shine in National Competitions

This past semester, Montclair State University’s BFA Illustration program celebrated major student achievements on both national and regional stages. Two students were accepted into the highly competitive Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition, and one student won the SCBWI New Jersey Conference Student Portfolio Award. These milestones reflect the growing strength of Montclair’s young Illustration program and its commitment to preparing students for professional success.

The Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition is one of the most prestigious illustration contests in the country, recognizing top talent from colleges and universities nationwide. This year, the competition received a record-breaking 4,550+ entries, with only 187 works accepted. From the 30–50 submissions entered on behalf of Montclair State students, two freshmen from the Intro to Illustration course earned acceptance, an extraordinary accomplishment so early in their careers.

Naithen Nieves, who transferred into the BFA Illustration program from University of the Arts after its closure, created The Pieces of Me, a conceptual self-portrait in pen and ink. Using a stippling technique made up entirely of small dots, Naithen broke his face into fragmented forms, drawing inspiration from cut-up photographic references he arranged digitally.

Fern Nolasco, who entered the program the following semester, developed Roll the Dice, a macabre reimagining of the game Candy Land that became an abstract and thought-provoking pen and ink self-portrait. Both works grew out of the same first assignment in Intro to Illustration, which challenged students to think conceptually about the editorial industry through word associations, thumbnail sketches, and inventive uses of reference.

When Program Manager of Competitions and Festivals Jordan Lisicky notified Montclair of the acceptances, the celebration was immediate. At the awards reception in May, both students saw their work framed alongside the nation’s best student illustrators. Leslie Cober-Gentry, President of the Society of Illustrators, noted how rare it is for freshmen to be accepted and emphasized the magnitude of their accomplishment. Their work is now published in the Society’s exhibition catalogue, reaching top art buyers and industry leaders.

Montclair State University also hosted the New Jersey Chapter Conference for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) for the third consecutive year this past summer.

A highlight of the conference is the student portfolio showcase, judged this year by an art director from Macmillan, one of the world’s leading publishers. Illustration major Liz Seidemann won the Student Portfolio Award for their body of narrative and comic-based work, marking an exciting step forward as they enter senior year this fall. The program also celebrates the ongoing success of alumni, such as last year’s student portfolio winner, Zachary Rios ’24, who was discovered by a literary agent at the same conference and went on to secure a book deal for a graphic novel.

Rios reflected: “The Illustration program at Montclair was integral to me getting my agent and book deal. The classes helped to build a strong portfolio and the professors gave me opportunities to put it in front of industry professionals. I have now been given an offer for the book and we will likely be taking it. This means official work on the book will begin soon!”

These recent awards highlight the momentum of Montclair’s newly developed BFA Illustration program. Faculty are committed to connecting students directly with industry professionals through events such as SCBWI, conventions like MoCCA Fest, and a newly established mandatory internship program. With opportunities to showcase their work, gain professional feedback, and build portfolios tailored for the field, Montclair State University illustration students are making their mark early in their careers.