President's Choice Award


The President's Choice Award started in 2014 for students in the First Nations Fine Arts program.

Once every academic year, Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art students are encouraged to submit original painted designs for their chance to be selected by the President and CEO of Coast Mountain College.

Factors that contribute to the selection include design originality, cleanliness, and overall composition.

When a winner and runner up are determined, silkscreen prints of the first-place designs are made and are given away as gifts. This award benefits the students by building their confidence and encouraging them to create new ideas and designs.


  • CMTN Announces Winner of President's Choice Award

    by Lucy Stanford | Feb 26, 2024

    Terrace, BC -- Coast Mountain College is proud to announce the winner of this year's President's Choice Award, Savannah Medeiros, with her piece "Between Worlds". 

    Savannah's bio: 
    Savannah Medeiros is a Nisga’a/Ts’msyen artist whose crest is Gisk’aast (blackfish). Her family comes from Gitwinksihlkw, part of the Nisga’a Nation. She lives in Kitsumkalum, where she grew up (Ts’msyen Nation). Savannah comes from a lineage of carvers, her grandmother Sandra Wesley who is her role model, was under Freda Diesing in the eighties, and was one of the carvers for Kitsumkalum totem poles. Savannah is currently attending Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art.  


    "Between Worlds" by Savannah Medeiros (Nisga'a/Ts'ymsyen). 40" x 60" acrylic on birch panel. 

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    Erica Davis received an Honourable Mention with her piece "Luu-dam̓ihl Smax (Bear Hug)". 

    Erica's bio:
    Way! Erica Davishl way̓. Wil luu wan wam-Nisg̱a'ay̓. Wilps Aama Gat wil w̓itgwiy̓. Ksim Laxg̱ibuu n̓iiy. Linda Wilson t Nooy̓ ii Helen Leeson wahl Nits'iits'iy̓. Lax̱g̱alts'ap wil w̓itgwiy̓ ii Gitlax̱dax wil jog̱ay̓. 


    "Luu-dam̓ihl Smax (Bear Hug)" by Erica Davis (Nisga'a). 22" x 28" acrylic on birch. 

     

    The Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art student exhibition was at the Terrace Art Gallery from February 2 to February 24, and will be moving to the Kitimat Museum and Archives upstairs gallery opening Friday, March 1 and running until March 30, 2024. 

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    Media Contact

    Heather Bastin 
    Executive Director, External Relations 
    hbastin@coastmountaincollege.ca 
    250-635-6511 ext. 5494