Recently, 23 artists were recognized with 47 Northwest Scholastic Art Awards. Out of those 23, eight won Gold Key awards, the highest award given out, and their pieces will advance to compete at a national level. The option to enter a piece of art wasn’t a requirement, yet many seized the opportunity to see how their work stacked up against others.

“They usually have some that they’re thinking about,” Ann Breyne, photography teacher, said, “And then I will give them feedback and input if they ask. To be honest I had hardly any input this year.”

Along with Breyne, art teachers Marianna Garvey and Diane Gauthier were the two other teachers that had students submit. Although there wasn’t a large percentage of art students that submitted, out of those that did, almost everyone received an award.

“There’s a very strong interest in photography here,” Breyne said. “And we have a very strong program.”

Kendra Frankle, senior, is one of the photographers to submit photos, and walked away with five Honorable Mentions, three Silver Keys and one Gold Key.

“I submitted eight photos and one portfolio which was also eight photos,” Frankle said. “The portfolio had its own concentration; it was about wine workers and field workers.”

Frankle will be attending Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall, and would like to pursue a career in photojournalism. Not all high school artists share a similar dream, yet they will still carry art with them for the rest of their lives.

Hannah Hashbarger, junior, received an Honorable Mention, a Silver Key and a Gold Key in the photography category. Hashbarger doesn’t plan on pursuing photography like Frankle, but she and many other students still submit just to see what will happen.

With this wide array of interest levels, Breyne feels that the amount of recipients this year is a pretty good representation of the talent that resides in the photo room as well as the other art rooms. Although this was the major competition of the year, many of her students, like Frankle, will continue compiling their photos for other opportunities such as scholarships.

Here are the 23 artists who placed, in alphabetical order by last name:

William Alexy, freshman, received an Honorable Mention in Drawing & Illustration

Brice Brown, senior, received a Gold Key in Film & Animation

Ivy Brucker, freshman, received a Silver Key in Drawing & Illustration

Katy Burkhartzmeyer, junior, received an Honorable Mention in Ceramics & Glass

Sophie Conrad, junior, received an Honorable Mention in Ceramics & Glass

Isaiah Cookingham, junior, received a Gold Key in Painting

Yurika Enoumi, junior, received two Honorable Mentions in Mixed Media and one Honorable Mention in Painting

Chantel Florendo, junior, received an Honorable Mention in Ceramics & Glass and a Silver Key in Painting

Kendra Frankle, senior, received five Honorable Mentions, two Silver Keys, a Gold Key in Photography and a Silver Key for her Art Portfolio

Abby Gross, senior, received a Gold Key in Drawing & Illustration

Hannah Hashbarger, junior, received an Honorable Mention, a Silver Key and a Gold Key in Photography  

Lizzy Herrick, senior, received a Silver Key in Drawing & Illustration

Dylan Jahnson, senior, received seven Honorable Mentions, a Silver Key in Photography and a Gold Key for his Art Portfolio

Azure Malley-Porter, freshman, received an Honorable Mention in Photography

Quinn Manes, senior, received a Silver Key in Ceramics & Glass

Emma Mitchell, freshman, received an Honorable Mention in Digital Art and a Silver Key in Drawing & Illustration

Alexis Mooney, senior, received a Silver Key in Digital Art and a Gold Key in Drawing & Illustration

Caetano O’Doud-Vega, senior, received two Honorable Mentions and a Gold Key in Ceramics & Glass

Katherine Russell, sophomore, received an Honorable Mention in Photography

Anah Shatz-Muzaffarr, senior, received an Honorable Mention in Ceramics & Glass

Anna Spear, senior, received a Silver Key in Ceramics & Glass

Peyton Todd, junior, received a Silver Key in Painting