Metcalfe Alumni Wins Distinguished Award

Staff Report

Larmarrous Shirley is the 2026 Kentucky State University Whitney M. Young Distinguished Alumni Award awardee. The award is given to alumni who have made an impact at the state, national, and global levels.

Born in Summer Shade, Kentucky, Larmarrous graduated from Metcalfe County High School in 1990. From there, he attended Kentucky State University on an art and academic scholarship. Upon graduating with a BA in Studio Art/Design, he moved to Atlanta, GA, where he has had a lengthy career as an award-winning Art Director/Graphic Designer. He has contributed to entities such as the Trumpet Awards, the Mayor’s Ball, and The MLK, Jr. Beloved Community Awards, visually elevating the stories of global leaders.

Larmarrous was involved in the Moneta Sleet, Jr. Festival, creating the brand identity honoring the late KSU alum and Pulitzer Prize photographer. His design leadership has also supported entities such as his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta, and Black Voters Matter, where he helped spread awareness via tour bus graphics, national advertisements, and branding promoting voter engagement.

For nearly a decade, he has designed for The Lowcountry Jazz Festival, supporting initiatives for underserved communities. He currently serves as the designer for The King Center in Atlanta, GA, where he produces campaigns that promote nonviolence and civil rights. He co-owns Slo*Mo Media and is a sought-after deejay. Through every project, he leverages his creativity as a tool to inspire positive change.