Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCA&D) is proud to celebrate its 41st Commencement on Friday, May 5, at 10 am at Barshinger Center for Musical Arts, 620 College Avenue, Lancaster. The in-person ceremony also will be livestreamed at pcad.edu/stream.

This year, Steve Geist will receive the College’s Distinguished Alumni award and deliver the Commencement address.  

Geist, a 2006 graduate of PCA&D with a BFA in Illustration, is an award-winning UX and Product Design lead. He has built a career in product development, creating products that often focus on the intersection between art, education, and entertainment. His career has continually evolved, from companies like classic LEGO to startup Kinoo and in-depth freelance consultancy projects. 

Other honors to be presented at Commencement:

Honorary Degree, Doctor of Fine Arts: Ophelia Chambliss

Deeply invested in the arts community in York, Ophelia Chambliss is a champion of what the arts can accomplish through exposing people to new ways of thinking, to opportunities for growth and community-building, and to the economic development of a city. Her expansive public works, mentorship achievements, and work with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission all speak to Chambliss’ dedication to making the creative life possible for artists and designers. Chambliss holds a BA and an MA in Communication from Penn State University, with an emphasis on critical media discourse analysis.

 

Medal of Honor: Peter Danko

York-based designer Peter Danko is a master craftsman who specializes in sustainable furniture design and whose creations are housed in some of the nation’s most prominent museum collections. Owner of nearly a dozen patents for his work, his many innovations in green design, and dedication to using often-overlooked materials, have made him one of the leaders in this exciting and expanding field. Danko holds a BA in Art and Art History from University of Maryland.

At PCA&D, the Senior Show Exhibition is an integral part of Commencement celebrations, and features individual galleries of work by each member of the graduating class. The Class of 2023 exhibition opens to the public that evening, May 6, for First Friday, from 5-9 pm throughout the College campus at 204 N. Prince St., Lancaster. It remains open to the public throughout the weekend: Saturday, May 7, from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday, May 8, from noon to 4 pm.