Brightpoint Community College Foundation Announces its 2026 Art Award Winner
Primary Media Contact:
Holly Walker
Director of Communications and Public Relations
804-594-1530
Secondary Media Contact:
Heather Busch
Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy
804-594-1532
CHESTER and MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – Following a career in law, Catherine Hwang embarked on a journey of discovery, one which allowed her to explore and develop her creative interests. She enrolled in Brightpoint Community College’s visual arts program in 2021 and immersed herself in classes. She learned techniques; challenged herself by working in mediums that were unfamiliar and felt less comfortable; and began to understand herself as an artist. “One of my instructors, Michael Pierce, challenged us to go beyond the technical aspects to find out what it means to be an artist,” said Hwang. “What do you want to say? What are you putting out into the world? What are your thoughts? He and other faculty at Brightpoint are helping me find my voice.”
Hwang believes art can affect social change, and she finds herself focusing more on creating work that is representational so it can be more accessible to those who view it. She also wants her art to be beautiful. “To me, art should be captivating to the eye,” she said. Hwang’s desire to show beauty through her art is highlighted in her watercolor painting, Hull Street Road, which recently was named as the 2026 Brightpoint Community College’s Foundation Art Award winner. “I was driving in the rain, and I noticed the light in the sky, the stoplight reflecting on the wet asphalt, and how beautiful this normally congested artery was,” Hwang explained. “I turned around so I could capture it. When I was asked to paint a landscape for a class, I immediately thought of this scene. I wanted people to see that this is our landscape, the one we live in, and we should enjoy it and celebrate the beauty we have at home.” This is the second time Hwang has been named as the winning artist for the Brightpoint Community College Foundation Art Award. Her painting, Two Apples, received the award in 2023. “I was so humbled when I learned the news,” she said when asked about being the 2026 award recipient. “I felt grateful that people could appreciate this landscape the way I did, and I felt such satisfaction because watercolor was a new medium for me.”
The Brightpoint Community College Foundation Art Award, which originated in 1995, showcases the artistic abilities of the college’s students. The winner is selected by the Foundation Board of Directors. An image of the winning artwork is converted into a poster and into cards that are used by the foundation and the college. The winner receives a financial award, a framed and matted copy of the poster, and additional posters for their portfolio.
In addition to Hwang, the following students created artwork that were finalists for the 2026 Brightpoint Community College Foundation Art Award: Josh Cloninger, Estefania Jimenez Rivero, Amy Jung, Beq Parker, Aine Pierce, and Eric Smart.
The Brightpoint Community College Foundation secures resources that provide scholarships for students; fund academic programs, student support services, capital projects, and renovations to modernize classrooms and labs; and stimulate innovation within the college faculty and staff. This work ensures the college continues its pledge of providing academic excellence to students while expanding the services it offers to meet the community’s workforce requirements. Since most of the college’s graduates live and work in the area, gifts to the foundation are an investment in both students and the community.
Brightpoint Community College, one of the largest institutions in the Virginia Community College System, envisions a success story for every student. Brightpoint offers students a high-quality, high-value education, with more than 80 majors that provide pathways to careers in in-demand fields; transfer opportunities to four-year colleges and universities; and industry credentials and licensures. The college, with campuses in Chester and Midlothian, online classes, and off-campus classrooms, served 12,686 students during the 2024-25 academic year. It also assisted 4,200 learners through Community College Workforce Alliance, the shared workforce division of Brightpoint and Reynolds community colleges.