Delgado Student Shaneta Taylor Wins Algiers Mardi Gras Festival Poster Contest

January 11, 2024

Festival Press Conference Held at Delgado West Bank Campus 

On Tuesday, January 9, Delgado Community College’s West Bank Campus hosted a press conference to announce the return of the Algiers Mardi Gras Festival for its fourth annual event on Saturday, January 27 at Federal City and to unveil the winning artwork for the festival’s poster contest, designed by Delgado student Shaneta Taylor.  

Shaneta Taylor is majoring in Delgado’s associate degree program in visual communications-graphic design while working part time as a graphic designer. Taylor made the Dean’s List in Spring and Fall 2023 and plans to graduate in Fall 2024, then begin full-time work in graphic design. 

Jaclyn Rawls, Taylor’s graphic design instructor at Delgado, informed her about the festival poster contest and encouraged her to enter. Rawls said, “Shaneta is an exemplary student who shines in the areas of talent, dedication, and hard work. It was no surprise that she seized the opportunity for this contest. The poster is so beautiful, and I heard many members of the crowd agreeing with that sentiment.” 

Taylor said, “My vision was to capture the spirit of the ‘Best’ Bank, advertising Mardi Gras, the NOMTOC parade, jazz culture, the Mohawk Hunters Indians, Algiers marching band, Algiers historical landmarks, Old Algiers Point, and the Crescent City Connection.”   

Asked about her experience as a Delgado student and achieving the poster contest win, Taylor said, “It has been great! My favorite classes are the ones Ms. Rawls teaches, and the advisors are easy to talk to. I believed in myself, and I believed in God. I would like to thank the entire organization and everyone involved in creating the opportunity for me to showcase my talent.” 

Delgado West Bank Campus Executive Dean and Algiers Development Corporation Vice President Dr. Peter Cho said, “We are extremely proud to have a Delgado student win the poster competition for the Algiers Mardi Gras Festival, and this is the first year that colleges were invited to participate. This shows the best of Delgado Community College and the amount of talent we have from our students and teachers. We are proud to be a partner of the Algiers Mardi Gras Festival, the Algiers Development District, the Algiers Development Corporation and all of Federal City.”  

This is the second year the festival press conference was held at Delgado’s West Bank Campus in the Advanced Manufacturing Center. Additional speakers and attendees included Erica Meredith-Boseman, Algiers Mardi Gras Festival Emcee; Oscar Rainey, Algiers Mardi Gras Festival President and CEO; Louis Conlin, Conlin Org./McDonald’s Owner/Operator; Gary Carter Jr., Senator; Delisha Boyd, State Representative; Freddie King, New Orleans Councilmember District C; Helena Moreno, New Orleans Councilmember-at-Large; J.P. Morrell, New Orleans Councilmember-at-Large and Susan Hutson, Orleans Parish Sheriff. The New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy Brass Band performed popular music including “Do Watcha Wanna” and “The Second Line.” Irene Burrus, 100-year-old Algiers native and community activist, was named 2024 Grand Marshall of the festival.  

Learn more about Delgado’s Associate of Applied Science in Visual Communications-Graphic Design. 

Learn more about Delgado’s General Studies Concentration in Fine Arts.