A Heritage alum recently donated a piece of artwork to her alma mater. The alumna now attends the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, which is one of the nation’s “largest accredited independent schools of art and design.” It’s a prestigious school that helped shape the likes of Georgia O’Keeffe, Walt Disney, Grant Wood, and now, our very own Samantha Dean.

Dean graduated from Rogers Heritage High School in 2016. She was an excellent student who was involved in many school activities like the Heritage newspaper, Gender-Equality Club, the Literary Magazine, Link Crew, and the Art Club. She received many scholarships and was able to attend “the most influential art college in the United States” because of her outstanding art skills. To repay the teachers that helped her get to where she is, Dean created a 12 inch x 18 inch woodblock print on paper, which now is currently in Heritage’s front office.

Dean said, “Heritage provided me with wonderful teachers and resources that allowed me to pursue what I loved. They gave me the opportunity to experiment with art and different mediums, and because of that, I grew as a person. I was able to go to college to study something I was passionate about.”

“I wanted to give Heritage this piece because it couldn’t have been made without the resources and support I got at Heritage. It played a key role in the scholarships and recognition I received. I simply wouldn’t be where I am without my wonderful teachers and my school.”