Area students shine in art, writing competition
Hope Cunningham, an eighth-grader at Avella Junior-Senior High School, was selected an American Vision nominee in photography for her entry, “Hoops,” in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Kenneth Free, a senior at Washington High School, was selected an American Vision nominee in painting for his entry, “Portrait of a Goddess,” in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Talyn Buxton, a senior at Trinity High School, was selected an American Vision nominee in ceramics for her entry, “Piggy Bank,” in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Cindy Hsieh, a student at Peters Township High School, was selected an American Vision nominee in painting for her entry, “The Meditation of Childhood,” in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Paige Novick, a senior at Canon-McMillan High School, was selected an American Vision nominee in drawing and illustration for her entry, “Pa,” in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Students from high schools in Greene, Washington and Fayette counties were honored last Sunday for winning either a Gold Key, Silver Key or Merit Award in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition held at California University of Pennsylvania.
Five Washington County students were chosen as American Vision nominees for their artwork, and three students from Washington County were chosen as American Voice nominees for their writing. Their work, along with that of Gold Key winners in art and writing, will be judged nationally in New York City alongside the award-winning work from 100 other regions representing all parts of the country. Nearly 350,000 entries were submitted nationwide.
National winners will be announced March 17, and they, plus their parents and teachers, will be honored June 2 at the national Scholastic Art and Writing Awards ceremony in Carnegie Hall. They also will be considered for scholarships at 50 universities, including notable schools as Bard, Rochester Institute of Technology, Kenyon College, Rhode Island School of Design, Syracuse, Carnegie Mellon and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
Students from districts in the three-county area submitted 419 pieces of writing and art to the regional program. Art judges awarded 42 Gold Keys, 43 Silver Keys and 139 Merit Awards. Writing judges awarded three Gold Keys, 14 Silver Keys and 29 Merit Awards.
The American Vision nominees are:
• Talyn Buxton, Trinity High School, ceramics.
• Hope Cunningham, Avella Junior-Senior High School, photography. Cunningham also won three Gold Keys for photography.
• Kenneth Free, Washington High School, painting.
• Cindy Hsieh, Peters Township High School, painting. Hsieh also won a Gold Key for painting.
• Paige Novick, Canon-McMillan High School, drawing and illustration.
In addition, Chynna El-Ayazra of Uniontown Area High School and Megan McKenzie of Ringgold High School won Gold Keys for their art portfolios. Gold Portfolio Award recipients receive $10,000 scholarships, representing the highest level of achievement in the awards. El-Ayazra also won a Gold Key in drawing.
The American Voice nominees are:
• Ethan Conklin, McGuffey High School, memoir.
• Shruthi Shivkumar, Peters Township High School, flash fiction.
• Kaylee Spitak, California Area High School, science fiction.
The art and writing categories included digital art, drawing, fashion, sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography, printmaking, mixed media, jewelry, film, comic art, editorial cartoon, critical essay, memoir, poetry, short story, flash fiction, science fiction, humor, drama and journalism.
Gold Key winners in art, in addition to Cunningham, El-Ayazra and Hsieh, are:
• Ashley Barzd, Central Christian Academy, painting.
• Jade Campbell, Ben Franklin Middle School, drawing.
• Jimmie Carroll, Avella Junior-Senior High School, digital art.
• Cheyenne Christman, Avella Junior-Senior High School, photography.
• Madeline Cramer, Connellsville Area High School, mixed media.
• Abby Cutwright, Carmichaels Area High School, sculpture.
• Deidra Dayak, Avella Junior-Senior High School, photography.
• Elizabeth Elliott, Ringgold High School, mixed media.
• Heather Elms, Trinity High School, two Gold Keys in ceramics.
• Caleb Hutchin, Central Christian Academy, drawing.
• Levi Hutchin, Central Christian Academy, photography.
• Cassidy King, Canon-McMillan High School, mixed media.
• Carly Kristobek, Ringgold High School, drawing.
• Calyssa Lavery, Carmichaels Area High School, two Gold Keys in painting and one in digital art.
• Jackson Legler, Trinity High School, ceramics.
• Joshua Moorehead, Central Christian Academy, drawing.
• Cassandra Muhr, Avella Junior-Senior High School, photography.
• Alexa Nyiri, Canon-McMillan High School, sculpture.
• Sara Pesto, Central Christian Academy, mixed media.
• Elijah Porbin, Avella Area Junior-Senior High School, two Gold Keys in photography.
• Jeffrey Pratt, Carmichaels Area High School, sculpture.
• Emily Richard, Fort Cherry High School, one Gold Key in fashion and one in mixed media.
• David Simpkins, Lakeview Christian Academy, photography.
• Abigail Strauser, Ben Franklin Middle School, photography.
• Mckayla Swaney, A.J. McMullen School, photography.
• Walker Witt, A.J. McMullen School, printmaking.
• Emily Zimcosky, Geibel Catholic High School, photography.
The Scholastic Awards have encouraged young writers and artists since the program was launched in Pittsburgh in 1923.
More than $3.25 million in scholarships is available to graduating seniors who earn national medals.