DANBURY, CONN. — The Western Connecticut State University art department will host the senior thesis exhibition of 2012 from noon to 4 p.m. beginning Wednesday, April 18, through Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in the Higgins Gallery in Higgins Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. A reception for the artists will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18. Both the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

The senior thesis exhibition is the capstone experience for WCSU art majors who will be graduating in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree. There are four areas of concentration within the arts program: graphic design, illustration, photography and studio art. Each concentration will be featured in the exhibition.

The graphic design majors will include: Kathleen Barta, of New Milford; Randy Blissett, of Hartford; Anna Burns, of Bethel; Justin Buto, of New Fairfield; Alissa DeGregorio, of Danbury; Ryan Greene, of Sandy Hook; Victoria Grennan, of Coventry; Ashley Hampton, of Norwich; Samantha Hummel, of Oxford; Nicholas Jakoboski, of New Fairfield; Natalya Kurjiaka, of Danbury; Zeqiang Li, of Stamford; Joseph Massimo, of Brewster, N.Y; Kim Neel, of Danbury; Anthony Pensiero, of Stamford; Timothy Porter, of Plainville; Nicholas Saward, of Danbury; Alexandre Teixeira, of Bethel; and Gabrielle Waterman, of Niantic.

Illustration majors include: Jerry Bazile, of Danbury; Heather Brasche, of Burlington; Gabriella Ciocca, of Seymour; Emily Gombos, of Woodbury; Karyn Hazel, of Danbury; Luke Kennedy, of Danbury; Jessica Long, of Waterbury; Shavonna Person, of Danbury; and Mary Ellen Sperle-Pataro, of Carmel, N.Y.

Photography majors include: Amanda Emanuel, of West Redding; Shaina Fogel, of Norwalk; Haley Ford, of Naugatuck; Megan Pirron, of Wilton; and Heather Testa, of Naugatuck.

Studio Art majors include three painters: Jessica Dey, of Winsted; Whitney Foster, of Beaufort, N.C.; and Jasmine Hunter, of Norwalk; and one sculptor: Timothy Schweitzer, of Babylon, N.Y.

For more information, call (203) 837-8410.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.