Before she was an art teacher shaping the lives of young artists, Jennifer Rodgers ‘94 was one of them. As a high school student in New Jersey, she received a scholarship to attend Moore College of Art & Design’s Young Artists Workshop, a program that not only strengthened her skills but helped her build the portfolio that secured her admission to Moore.
“I loved it. They were the best art classes I'd ever had at that point in my life,” Rodgers said. “When I was applying to colleges, Moore was on the very short list of places I wanted to go because I already knew it was a good school. I had such a great experience at the Young Artists Workshop there.”
At Moore, Rodgers majored in Printmaking with a minor in Art History, immersing herself in a creative community and developing a passion for teaching. Before graduating, she started taking evening Art Education courses through Moore’s post-baccalaureate program, soon earning her Pennsylvania Art Teacher certificate.
Rodgers said the program was instrumental in helping her develop progressive teaching strategies and an accepting classroom environment.
“I definitely think Moore's program had a profound impact on the type of art teacher I am and the type of art classroom that I wanted to have for my students,” she said. “Even back then, we were learning about ways to make the classroom inclusive for all kinds of learners, and that's a really important part of of what I teach.”
After earning her BFA degree from Moore in 1994, she returned to the College as both a Young Artists Workshop instructor and an admissions counselor, working with students who were in the same position she once was. In 1998, she accepted a position as an art teacher at Strath Haven High School in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, where she’s taught for the past 27 years.
Rodgers says she still teaches printmaking in her classroom at Strath Haven High School.
It was at Strath Haven that Rodgers met Carson Prey-Harbaugh, a student whose passion and creativity left a mark on her. Prey-Harbaugh, who took three years of art classes with Rodgers, was known for their curiosity, kindness and strong sense of conviction.
Like Rodgers, Prey-Harbaugh attended the Young Artists Workshop, taking classes in fashion and watercolor. Prey-Harbaugh was drawn to the experience of learning alongside other young artists who shared their passion.
“What’s great about the Young Artists Workshop is that you’re with like-minded people. It’s a chance to be with people who are super passionate about art,” Rodgers said. “I definitely think it was the people, the experience of being in the city and learning new things that Carson loved. Those were all things the Young Artists Workshop provided for me as well.”
Prey-Harbaugh developed their watercolor and fashion design skills at Moore's historic Young Artists Workshop.
When Prey-Harbaugh passed away in 2024, their loss echoed throughout Rodgers’ classroom, Strath Haven, and the Moore community. Amid the grief, an opportunity emerged to honor Prey-Harbaugh's memory: Moore funded 10 scholarships for Strath Haven students to attend the Young Artists Workshop in Prey-Harbaugh’s name.
“I started to cry [when I found out]. I couldn't believe it—I was just floored. It was such a moving gesture from the people at Moore to do something special for someone who was so special to us,” Rodgers said.
The scholarships were awarded to students who embodied Prey-Harbaugh’s creativity and spirit at a ceremony at Strath Haven in December 2024. Rodgers says it was a special moment for the recipients, who had no idea they'd be surprised with “this incredible gift.”
The Strath Haven High School community celebrated scholarship recipients at a reception in December 2024.
Soon after the ceremony, the students visited Moore for a campus tour, stepping into the same classrooms where Rodgers and Prey-Harbaugh studied and created.
“When we came to visit Moore, it really took things up a notch. For them, seeing the spaces and realizing they could take a class there made it really special for them,” Rodgers said.
For Rodgers, this moment of connection felt like a full-circle moment that began with her own experiences at Moore. As she continues to inspire young artists, Rodgers sees the effects of both Moore and Prey-Harbaugh’s legacy in her classroom every day.
“Moore continues to do a great job reaching artists of all ages, and that’s an important part of the programs there," she said."The young people that are enrolled at Moore now are eventually going to go out into the world and make an impact."
Moore College of Art & Design is the only independent art and design college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Want to learn more about the Young Artists Workshop at Moore? Contact our Admissions team at enroll@moore.edu or 215.965.4015 to set up a call or a campus visit. We'd love to tell you more!
