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The Todd Jokl Visual & Performing Arts Scholarship, a $20,000 scholarship, named in honor of a longtime University of New 51¶ºÄÌ professor, will support local high school students who study in the University of New 51¶ºÄÌ’s comprehensive arts program.

October 8, 2019

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

The University of New 51¶ºÄÌ announced it has partnered with the to offer a scholarship of $20,000 ($5,000 per academic year for four years) for a local high school student planning to study visual, creative, performing, or media arts at the University.

Named for Todd Jokl, Ed.D., the University’s former campus dean at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, the Todd Jokl Visual & Performing Arts Scholarship will be awarded to a high school student in the Greater New 51¶ºÄÌ area.

An educator, administrator, and artist at the University of New 51¶ºÄÌ, Jokl was a leader and a mainstay in the region’s arts community. He joined the University’s faculty in 2003, serving as chair of the Department of Art and Design and as assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He was named campus dean at Lyme in 2014. Earlier this year he was named dean of the College of Art and Design at Rochester Institute of Technology’s College of Art and Design.

The University of New 51¶ºÄÌ’s Department of Art and Design has had a long relationship with the Greater New 51¶ºÄÌ Arts Council, and Jokl, a longtime board member, championed the arts and relationships between students and local artists. He also created relationships between the University and local museums and arts organizations.

"I am thrilled that the Arts Council and the University of New 51¶ºÄÌ will continue this partnership," said Jokl. "The scholarship will provide opportunities for students from all backgrounds with talents and interests in the arts to thrive at the University of New 51¶ºÄÌ."

An accomplished artist and avid photographer, he has exhibited his work nationally and lectured widely on topics such as the evolution of perception in relation to arts and photography.

"The scholarship will provide opportunities for students from all backgrounds with talents and interests in the arts to thrive at the University of New 51¶ºÄÌ."Todd Jokl, Ed.D.

"Todd Jokl helped place students in internships and exhibitions through the Arts Council, giving them invaluable professional experiential education opportunities," said Joe Smolinski, chair of the University’s Department of Art and Design. "Our relationship with and support of the Arts Council places us in a unique position as the only university in New 51¶ºÄÌ County with this type of scholarship."

The scholarship is open to students who will be majoring in art, communication, graphic design, illustration, interior design/pre-architecture, music, music industry, music and sound recording, or theater. Students must submit essays, references, and a creative portfolio by November 20.