News Story

April 04, 2025

La Roche University Honors Top Talent at Juried Art and Design Show

PITTSBURGH, April 4, 2025 – La Roche University celebrated the creativity and talent of its students at an opening reception and awards ceremony for Positive Space, a juried art and design show.

Hosted in the Cantellops Art Gallery on April 3, the event highlighted works from students in Graphic Design, Interior Architecture and Design, and Film. Students, faculty, alumni and industry professionals gathered to celebrate the innovative spirit and cutting-edge designs shaping the future of these fields.

Awards

Students from La Roche’s Design and Film programs competed for top honors, with industry professionals serving as jurors to select first, second and third place winners in each category. Natalie Janidlo, of Franklin, PA, won the Best in Show Award and earned first place honors in branding, animation, and black and white photography. She placed third in poster design.

“Positive Space allows both myself and my peers to literally hold space for ourselves: to celebrate what we’ve accomplished, to see how hard we've worked, and especially how we've inspired and supported each other over the course of the year,” said Ms. Janidlo, a graduate of Venango Catholic High School. “It's an amazing time to see how we've grown and are continuously curating our inner designers, and it's very securing to see how far along we are in working toward our futures.”

Full List of Award Recipients

UX/UI

Edwin Kavuma

Branding

First: Natalie Janidlo
Second: Marisa White
Third: Edwin Kavuma

Publication

First: Elena Bou Dargham
Second: Gino Bonnoni
Third: Alexis Boesse

Typography

First: Elena Bou Dargham
Second: Adelle Sealand
Third: Gino Bonnoni

Information Design

First: Zachary Hassan
Second: Alexis Boesse
Third: Marisa White

Animation

First: Natalie Janidlo
Second: Gino Bonnoni
Third: Natalie Janidlo

Packaging

First: Marisa White
Second: Elaine Adamiak
Third: Alexis Boesse

Poster

First Place: Zachary Hassan
Second Place: Adelle Sealand
Third Place: Natalie Janidlo

Micro Design

First: Duc Tuan Nguyen
Second: Krishna Patel
Third: Sarah Jean Kowalski

Residential Design

First: Keza Laura Titi
Second: Emily Ream

Hospitality Design

First: Annaliese Siefert
Second: Francesca Hvostal
Third: Annaliese Siefert

Commercial Design

First: Francesa Hvostal
Second: Kaylee Slavik

Multidiscipline

Illustration

First: Josephine Riegel
Second: Brooklyn Hollaway
Third: Josephine Riegel

Foundations

First: Krishna Patel
Second: Kaylee Slavik
Third: Brooklyn Hollaway

Fine Art

First: Angela Corsello
Second: Olivia Sickmiller
Third: Angela Corsello

Photography

Black and White

First: Natalie Janidlo
Second: Olivia Sickmiller
Third: Monica Rander
H/M: Kathryn Strang

Color

First: Laura Titi
Second: Sydney Gilliland
Third: Olivia Ley
H/M: Annie Redfoot

Composite

First: Matthew Colwell
Second: Kathryn Strang
Third: Monica Rander

Best in Show

Natalie Janidlo

About Positive Space

Positive Space offers an opportunity for students to present their work to the public and engage directly with professionals from their respective industries. With categories covering a diverse range of creative disciplines, the exhibition highlights the full spectrum of talent in the La Roche Design Division.

“The La Roche Design Division is the entire basis of my development as a student and designer,” Ms. Janidlo said.

The exhibit, which runs until April 16, invites visitors to experience innovative student works across design, photography, film and visual arts. The Cantellops Art Gallery is open to the public for free.

Show Dates

March 26 – April 16, 2025
Zappala Campus Center, Cantellops Art Gallery
La Roche University

About La Roche University: An independent liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers 68 undergraduate programs of study, seven master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, nursing, and health and medical sciences as well as interior architecture & design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for women and men enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.