OSWEGO, NY – Oswego High School students’ artwork was among the very best at this year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards were launched in 1923 to encourage and recognize student achievement in the creative arts. Now entering their 86th year, it attracts more than 250,000 entries in 25 categories of writing and the visual arts.
Each year, the regional Central New York Scholastic Art Awards receives approximately 5,000 pieces of art from the 13 counties that make up the Central New York region.
They also select approximately 200 Silver Keys and 400 Honorable Mentions and numerous special awards, creating the resulting exhibit of almost 1,200 total pieces.
This year, 34 Fine Arts Portfolios were awarded the much-coveted Scholastic Gold Key Award out of nearly 200 submissions.
Portfolio submissions are limited to seniors and must include eight pieces of art to represent the best of their high school career.
One of these awards went to Emily Richmond from Oswego City High School for her Graphics concentration portfolio.
This was the only Portfolio Gold Key award given to any student from Oswego County.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Emily Richmond for the past three years as a student in Drawing & Painting, Computer Graphics, Web.com, and Advanced Art. She is always highly motivated and committed to her art; she possesses technical skill in both fine arts and computer graphics,” said art teacher Melissa Martin. “When deciding which pieces to include in her portfolio, we decided to take a risk and send only graphics pieces rather than the traditional drawing and painting portfolios that most school districts submit.”
Her graphics pieces are technically well done and unique in style as well as content.
“I thought that they would stand out and have a better chance of being selected. Two of her eight pieces were awarded individual Honorable Mentions in their categories of Digital Art and Interior Design,” Martin explained.
Other talented students who submitted senior portfolios include Sarah Skinner, Gerritt Crisafulli and Chelsea Sereno.
Sereno received two individual Honorable Mention awards for Digital Art, and Drawing.
Senior Hilary MacDonald earned a Silver Key award for her Design piece “Ride†accomplished during only one semester of Computer Graphics.
Senior Elizabeth Nielsen received a Silver Key award for her Jewelry submission entitled “Autumn Leaves†using skillful sawing and roll printing techniques in copper.
The copper leaves were submerged in a patina and then strung on Greek leather cord accompanied by a lovely selection of turquoise beads.
“Liz shows an extreme level of dedication and self motivation in her artwork which has lead to a body of very successful work this semester,†said art teacher Stacey Van Waldick.
Other students who received recognition by being awarded Honorable Mentions in Jewelry include Justine Harrington, Jade Nelson and Nielsen.
Overall, Oswego High School students received recognition in five different categories including Digital Art, Design, Drawing, Architecture (Interior Design) and Jewelry.
Other talented students who participated by submitting their outstanding artistic work include: Jenna Hotchkiss, Stephen Hoefer, Chelsee Brockwell, Nikole Bonacorsi, Chrissy Abare, Taylor Braun, Madison Palmer, Christian Canbalig, Mary Montagnola, Erin McIntosh, Haylee Gardener, Emily Fleischman, Eliza Parker, and Alex Wetter.
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Congratulations to Ms Martin. She has been a unique leader for the students of art at OHS. She has a unique ability to identify, develop and expose so many high end talents, and Oswego certainly can be proud for this. So again, congratulations to Ms. Martin and her students and good luck to all.