Delphin Niyonkuru was recognized for receiving the Dawn Menness Award during the Minneapolis Public School’s board meeting on Tuesday, May 14th. The Dawn Mennes award is given each year to a student for specific artwork that will become a part of a permanent district art collection. The award itself, established in 2010, is in honor of Dawn Mennes, a beloved MPS principal and visual arts teacher. Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson annually selects one art piece from the VIVA CITY high school art show to put in her office to be a part of the Minneapolis Public School’s permanent collection. This collection started in 2010 and hosts three art pieces.  This year, Delphin’s piece was selected to be a part of this collection and will be displayed on the second floor of the Davis Center in front of the Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson’s office. 

Each awardee has their work presented professionally with a recognition plaque and is compensated for their artwork through a memorial arts fund established in Dawn Mennes' name.