Scholar Success Stories: Student A
The School of Athens, 1509–1511, painted by Raphael
If we could shout the praises of our Scholar Launch alums from the rooftops, we would. For now, though, we’ll settle for starting a series that details the accolades earned and the success achieved by our former students after they graduate from our mentorship and progress in their educational journeys.
It goes without saying that our hardworking and dedicated students are more than deserving of the applause. Since we recently discussed the importance of studying the humanities, we’ll start our Scholar Success Stories by spotlighting Student A, a burgeoning art historian with an eye for the hidden language of Italian Renaissance paintings.
A Study of the High Renaissance
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, now widely known as Raphael to the English-speaking world, was and is regarded as a towering figure of the High Renaissance era. His work, including the iconic 'The School of Athens,’ still inspires and captivates art enthusiasts worldwide. Standing out amongst culture-shifting peers like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Titian, Raphael became the official painter of the Vatican when he crafted a portrait of Pope Julius II in 1508.
Student A–whose academic interests included Renaissance and Baroque art history and classic Roman Republic literature–chose to study how the festoons surrounding Raphel’s famous frescos communicated the artist’s understated knowledge of the discoveries emerging from the New World.
According to Student A, the festoons, or architectural ornamentations, included nearly 200 botanical elements from the New World and were much more complex than previously thought. In other words, Raphael had greater knowledge of the world around him than previously thought, and our alum set out to prove it.
He had the privilege of studying under the guidance of a New York University Professor of Art History, renowned as a leading researcher in the Renaissance field. This academic environment, coupled with the assistance of a PhD student from Emory, provided him with a unique and enriching learning experience.
Student A spent weeks collaborating with his mentors. He accompanied the professor on trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to hone his art analysis skills and worked hands-on with the teaching assistant to establish the appropriate research methodologies for his research. Upon completion of his program, Student A published an impressive 21-page research paper in The International Journal of Humanities and Social Studies. He even established his own research journal to help other high school scholars refine and publish their papers in the humanities. He even produced a YouTube documentary on the Medici Family!
Thanks to his dedication, he built a long-lasting relationship with the professor beyond Scholar Launch, leading to a sterling letter of recommendation for his college applications. This hard work, along with his academic fortitude, earned him acceptance letters from Princeton, Stanford, and Harvard. Once Student A enrolled in Harvard, he continued his research on Renaissance art and eventually landed a Teacher’s Assistant position at the prestigious university.
To say we’re proud of Student A would be an immense understatement. Scholar Launch’s ranks are filled with this type of determination and academic excellence. While our Faculty Advisors add immutable value to our research programs, our incredible students enrich our lives and inspire us daily. We can’t wait to spotlight our next scholar.