Senior Receives Illumination Award with Artwork to Join Permanent Collection

St. Margaret’s recognized senior April Ma as the recipient of the 2026 Illumination Award, an annual honor recognizing excellence in student visual arts and creative dedication.

The visual arts department faculty presented the award, in addition to April’s work becoming part of a lasting exhibition in the Barbara Nelson Permanent Art Collection, a curated exhibition that celebrates student achievement and artistic voice. The collection is named for St. Margaret’s faculty emeritus Barbara Nelson, who taught visual arts at the school for more than three decades and advocated for the visibility and recognition of student artwork.

April’s selection reflects both technical skill and a thoughtful artistic approach. Heather Holmes, Upper School visual arts studio teacher, noted that April’s work displayed remarkable attention to detail. “April has the ability to capture subtle qualities in her subjects, developed through consistent practice and a disciplined creative process.”

In addition to receiving the Illumination Award, April was recently named a semifinalist in the Orange County Artist of the Year competition, further showcasing her achievements in the visual arts.

Her work will now become part of the St. Margaret’s permanent collection, contributing to an ongoing display that highlights student creativity and honors a legacy of artistic expression.