University of Alabama at Birmingham rising senior, Tyler Zhou, won first place in the UABTyler Zhou with his design on the 2023 Honors College New Student Retreat t-shirt Honors College Art Contest and received the $500 Dean’s Scholarship Award. His undergraduate major is industrial distribution with a concentration in medical equipment and supplies distribution. Through an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s (ABM) program, he is also pursuing a master's in business administration.

“Placing first in this art competition and receiving the Honors College Dean's Scholarship is a testament to the dedication and talent that sets UAB honors students apart,” Zhou said. It is a recognition of the community's remarkable skills and a validation of their undergraduate journey, opening doors to new opportunities and encouraging further growth and exploration.”

Zhou’s winning design is an artistic reimagination of UAB’s beloved mascot, Blaze the Dragon, as a visible sign of strength and hope. “Having inspiration for art is like having a spark that ignites creativity and fuels the artistic process,” Zhou said. “I relayed that feeling and implemented how I thought "Set Your World on Fire" would be, into this design. The wings and tail on the back represent the phrase that I thought of ‘The sky's the limit’ so I wanted to implement that in the design so honors students can wear this design as a sign of following their dreams and achieving their goals.”

Tyler Zhou and Dean Shannon Blanton with the Honors College Art Contest and Dean's Scholarship CertificateEvery spring, honors students are invited to submit designs for an opportunity to display their artwork on promotional material for the Honors College New Student Retreat, a three-day event that welcomes incoming students through a variety of events and activities. During the contest, students were given specific guidelines on how to submit their artwork, which included adding the Honors College mantra, Set Your World On Fire, in either imagery or text. The Student Mentor and Retreat Team (SMART) Leaders reviewed and selected the final design.

“Every year, I am amazed at the talent and creativity of our honors students,” said Shannon L. Blanton, Ph.D., UAB Honors College Dean. “Tyler is an insightful and accomplished student who is more than deserving of this award. His design is powerful and insightful, and captures well the spirit and aspirations of students in the UAB Honors College.”

Creating art is a family tradition for Zhou, whether it’s for leisure or business purposes. “I like to create art as a hobby so that it doesn't mistreat me, or I grow weary of it,” Zhou said. “In this hobby, I can control the design, emotions, nature, and experience that I implement into my art without any negative stress on my mind.”

Art may be a hobby, but Zhou plans to continue exploring different types of art in the future. “I believe there are many different types of forms when it comes to creating art,” Zhou said. “There's painting, digital design, acting, poetry, writing, and so much more. If the opportunity arises, and I believe I could produce art optimally with my capabilities, then, of course, I would love to create more art in the future.”