Twelve FWCD Students Honored at Black & White Images Reception

February 14th 2025

Twelve FWCD students were honored for their photography in this year's Black and White Images Reception: Bella Castillo-Lerma ’28, Callie Chu ’27, Anna Chung ’28, Leo Hatem ’28, Jordan Jones ’25, Max Kaufmann ’25, William Marlow ’26, Genevieve Rudner ’27, William Runyon ’26, Ashton Theesfeld ’26, Mason Tuomey ’26, and Avery Williams ’28. Emily Arnold is their Photography Teacher. Photo (left) by William Runyon '26.

The contest received 463 entries from 13 of the finest photography programs in the DFW metroplex; 94 were on display from January 27-February 1 in the Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center. A reception took place on February 1 to recognize students who received awards. For the first time, the winning images were published in an exhibit portfolio, with each student photographer receiving a copy after the ceremony. Selected works are displayed in the Sid W. Richardson Visual Arts Center through the end of the month.

This year marked the 37th year of FWCD's Black & White Images Competition and Exhibition. Sponsored by the FWCD Visual Arts Department, Black & White Images provides a forum for exhibiting student photographers from regional private and public high schools, allowing them to exchange ideas, receive recognition and display outstanding photography.

This year’s adjudicator was Ian McVea, An Irish-born, Texas-based photojournalist and photography educator who grew up in Ireland, India, South Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Ethiopia and Algeria. McVea was a staff photographer at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and later became a photo editor and Director of Photography. After leaving the paper in 2012, he began a full-time career teaching commercial photography in the Arlington ISD.

“It is an honor to continue this tradition to celebrate our talented student photographers,” Arnold said. “I loved seeing our art students recognized alongside some of the best photography programs in the DFW area.”

Below are the FWCD students who exhibited and placed in the 2025 Black & White Images Competition.

First Place
Nature + Animals: William Runyon ’26, Silent Owl

Photo Essay: Max Kaufmann ’25, Hunting

Second Place
Architecture: Avery Williams ’28, Spain

Third Place
Architecture: Anna Chung ’28, Town Houses

Honorable Mention
Architecture: Genevieve Rudner ’27, Rome

Landscape + Cityscape: Callie Chu ’27, Shining Sea

Landscape + Cityscape: Leo Hatem ’28, The Lost Trail

Nature + Animals: Genevieve Rudner ’27, Chameleon

Nature + Animals: Bella Castillo-Lerma ’28, Rocks

Portrait: Ashton Theesfeld ’26, Luci

Portrait: Mason Tuomey ‘ 26, Jack