Sarah Grace Wiggins has always been a storyteller—but not just with words. Growing up in a family of educators, with a pencil almost always in hand, Sarah Grace learned early on that art could be its own kind of language. Now a sophomore in the Honors College majoring in Art Education, Sarah Grace has turned that lifelong passion into a mission: to use education and creativity to inspire the next generation of leaders.
This mission came into full bloom through her Honors College contract project, Agent of Change—an innovative curriculum that earned her the distinction of being the first-ever recipient of the Outstanding Honors Contract Award. But for Sarah Grace, it was not about accolades. It was about planting seeds of critical thinking, empathy, and self-expression in young students, showing them that their stories, like her own, deserve to be heard and celebrated.
My honors contract embodies my mission as both an artist and a teacher. I wanted to be more than just an individual striving to make a difference—I wanted to empower the next generation of leaders.
Sarah Grace
Her project, named A.G.E.N.T. (A Generation of Educated Necessary Thinkers), sought to equip fourth-grade students with not only technical art skills but also the ability to reflect, question, and lead. The core objective of Agent of Change was to demonstrate how art can serve as a transformative tool for self-expression, community impact, and leadership development. By spotlighting contemporary artists from diverse racial, gender, and cultural backgrounds, Sarah Grace’s curriculum challenged traditional norms, inviting students to see themselves as artists, changemakers, and storytellers.
For Sarah Grace, the recognition from the Outstanding Honors Contract Award was not just a personal victory—it was a glimpse into the future she hopes to shape.
I love learning, and I love school. I think education in general is such a powerful and beautiful thing. Art has always been such an integral part of my life, so being able to use art to communicate with the world and to inspire young kids—the next generation of leaders—through art and education is incredibly rewarding.
Sarah Grace
When reflecting on her journey, Sarah Grace offers this piece of advice to future Honors students: “Choose a contract topic that defines you both personally and professionally. Make sure it is something you are passionate about—it makes the whole process so much easier and the outcome more meaningful. Do not just do it for the grade or the award, do it because it will shape the kind of educator, artist, or professional you want to become.”
Sarah Grace Wiggins is not just preparing to be an educator. She is preparing to be an agent of change herself—one who empowers others to find their voices, tell their stories, and shape the world through the universal language of art.
