JCPS Students Named National Art Award Recipients

Nine students from the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District are national award recipients of the 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades seven through 12. The nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers announced the names of the more than 2,500 national award recipients today.

“This is the Oscars of the teen art world, so we are very excited to see these talented JCPS students recognized on the national stage,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens. “The arts are important and truly have the ability to energize classrooms and inspire the students inside them. Congratulations to our national recipients—we’re excited to celebrate their creativity and achievements.”

The recipients, which include students from Atherton, Butler Traditional, duPont Manual and Pleasure Ridge Park, are:

Gold Medal

1. Morgan Betsill, DuPont Manual High School, Mixed Media – Jasmine, Art Teacher: Alana Alford
2. Morgan Betsill, DuPont Manual High School, Sculpture – Who Are You?, Art Teacher: Cyndi Young
3. Teanna Courtney, Pleasure Ridge Park High School, Ceramics – Clifton’s Tea Time, Art Teacher: Tammy Podbelsek
4. Jordan Heller, Atherton High School, Drawing & Illustration – Imprisoned, Art Teacher: Rachel Gibbs

Silver Medal

1. Grace Bradley, DuPont Manual High School, Photography – Grasping for News
2. Megan Dyer, Butler Traditional High School, Art Portfolio – Sun Tea, Art Teacher: Becky McClinton
3. Mackenzie Smith, DuPont Manual High School, Drawing – Outdoor Portrait, Art Teacher: Alana Alford
4. Abigail Stewart, Pleasure Ridge Park High School, Ceramics – Decorative Bone, Art Teacher: Tammy Podbelsek
5. Celeste Stokes, Pleasure Ridge Park High School, Sculpture – My Urban Queen, Art Teacher: Tammy Podbelsek
6. Tammy Trieu, Atherton High School, Painting – Beneath, Art Teacher: Rachel Gibbs

American Visions Medal

1. Morgan Betsill, DuPont Manual High School, Sculpture – Who Are You?, Art Teacher: Cyndi Young

All submissions are judged based on the program’s three criteria: originality, technical skill and emergence of personal vision or voice. Student works are first judged regionally, with students receiving Gold Keys, Silver Keys, Honorable Mentions or American Visions & Voices Nominations.

Gold Key works are then judged nationally by a panel of creative-industry experts to receive Gold, Silver, American Visions & Voices, Portfolio Silver with Distinction or Portfolio Gold Medals.

An online gallery of artwork from the JCPS students is available here.