Eden Weingart, senior
North Springs Charter High School
Sure, Eden Weingart won the Fulton County Technology Fair in graphic design her junior year.
And, yes, she has the eighth highest grade point average of the 350 seniors in her graduating class at North Springs Charter High School.
But those accomplishments pale in comparison to what she considers her greatest feat: earning the privilege to eat in the North Springs graphics communications lab.
“It’s quite the honor,” said Weingart, laughing. “Virtually no one else is allowed to. You know you’ve really done something right when you get to consume edibles in the sacred graphics lab.”
Indeed, Weingart has done more than a few things right in that very graphics lab.
Beginning in fifth grade, Weingart began pursuing digital arts after receiving her first drawing tablet. In sixth grade, she photo-shopped her first logo for a friend’s Web site and began designing newsletters for her middle school, The Epstein School.
Noticing Weingart’s talent, administrators at the Epstein School bought her Adobe Illustrator, a computer program that allowed her to further her skills throughout middle school.
Weingart, who lives in Roswell, was supposed to attend Centennial High School, but she chose to attend North Springs because of its Visual Arts magnet program.
“I have no doubt I made the right choice,” said Weingart. “North Springs really has given me opportunities I otherwise would not have received at any other school.”
Among these opportunities is the graphics design program, in which Weingart immersed herself beginning with her sophomore year. Teacher Cam Lupiani allowed her to skip the introductory course and take on more difficult projects previously reserved for older students, such as designing the posters for school productions and helping out with the school Web site.
“It’s rare to find someone with both great talent and a great work ethic,” Lupiani said. “Eden certainly has both.”
The summer before her senior year, Weingart worked at a small marketing firm as a designer. Throughout her senior year, she has taken her graphics skills beyond the walls of North Springs, designing the logo for The Thirsty Dog Tavern, a Buckhead restaurant, and a cookie label design for Alon’s Bakery.
Weingart also excels in arts that don’t involve a computer, particularly painting and drawing. She won the Silver Key Award in oil painting at the Scholastic Art Competition (second place in Georgia) and attended the prestigious Governor’s Honors Program in Visual Arts after her sophomore year.
In addition, Weingart has taken five AP courses, earned straight A’s through high school and is a member of the National Art Honor Society and the National Honor Society.
“She’s an all-around incredible student,” Lupiani said. “She’s going to succeed—no, excel—in college and in her future. She has so much promise.”
What’s Next:
Weingart was accepted to all four schools she applied to, including Washington University in St. Louis’ Sam Fox School of Design, University of Georgia’s Honors Program, University of Maryland and Carnegie Mellon University School of Design.
She plans to major in graphics communication, with her top choice being the Carnegie Mellon University School of Design. She has not yet committed, though.
After completing college, Weingart’s dream job would be to work in a design firm.
“I’m really glad that I’ve been able to find something that I love to do and that can also serve as my career,” Weingart said.
–Amanda Wolkin