KU students earn top honors at 2026 National Student Show and Conference
LAWRENCE — Students from the University of Kansas were recognized with multiple top awards at the National Student Show and Conference 2026, one of the nation’s premier competitions for emerging talent in visual communication and design.
The event, held in Dallas and hosted by the DSVC Foundation, drew more than 350 student entries from over 25 college programs nationwide. Based on the overall strength of its submissions, KU was also named Best School by the national jury.
KU students earned honors across portfolio, motion design, branding and conceptual risk‑taking categories, reflecting the breadth and quality of work produced in the program.
Award recipients from KU include:
Wes Kemnitzer
Best of Senior Portfolios — Gold
Kemnitzer, of Kansas City, Missouri, received the highest honor in the senior portfolio category, recognizing excellence across a comprehensive body of work.
Adrian Buckner
Best of Senior Portfolios — Bronze and Judge’s Choice Award (Manny Rodriguez)
Buckner, of Lenexa, was recognized for outstanding senior‑level work and additionally selected for a Judge’s Choice Award by juror Manny Rodriguez.
Reese Cowden
Dick Sloan Scholarship for Best Junior Portfolio
Cowden, of Wichita, was awarded the Dick Sloan Scholarship for excellence in junior‑level portfolio development.
Meg Werner
Dick Sloan Scholarship for Best Sophomore Portfolio
Werner, of Hesston, earned top honors at the sophomore level, recognizing exceptional promise and design rigor early in academic study.
Danny Duong
Biggest Risk Taker Award (Sponsored by Colossal)
Duong, of Winfield, created “Expired,” a branding project for a fish and chips restaurant, recognized for its bold conceptual approach and willingness to push creative boundaries.
Instructor: Alex Anderson
Bella LeJuerrne
Best of Motion Design — Animated Short
LeJuerrne, of Tecumseh, created “Golden,” an animated short film about a dog searching for the feeling of companionship while wandering the lonely streets of Paris.
Instructor: Kent Smith
Olivia Krueger
Judge’s Choice Award (Chase Kahn)
Krueger, of Loveland, Colorado, created “The Art of Becoming,” a collection of 12 poems reflecting on the designer’s creative journey, blending personal reflection, motivation and growth through challenges and change.
Instructor: Jeremy Shellhorn
The National Student Show and Conference, now in its 22nd year, is the largest dedicated student creative competition and conference in the country. The annual event celebrates emerging voices in design, advertising, illustration, photography, motion and interactive media while providing students with professional feedback, networking opportunities and national visibility.
For more information about the University of Kansas design program and student work, visit the KU School of Architecture & Design website or follow program updates on social media.