Local students qualify for national art competition

January 25, 2018 Schools
Student holding his artwork

Walt Whitman 8th grader Alex Stewart and his painting “Real Ones Never Fail.” (Walt Whitman Middle School photo)

Six students from Richmond Highway-area schools recently received top honors for their artwork as part of the 2018 Regional Scholastic Art Awards, and they are now qualified for the national contest later this spring.

The six “Gold Key” recipients include three students from Hayfield Secondary School, two from West Potomac and one from Walt Whitman Middle School. Their works will be sent to the national Scholastic Art Awards competition, with the winners to be announced announced in April.

The winners of the national contest will have their works put on display in New York City, and will also receive monetary awards and scholarships, according to an FCPS news release. 

More than 4,200 pieces of art were entered in the regional competition, with 186 FCPS students winning Gold Keys and another 186 winning Silver Keys. The categories included drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, sculpture, digital art, design, architecture, jewelry, fashion, film and animation, mixed media, and portfolios. 

Walt Whitman 8th grader Alex Stewart was one of the local Gold Key winners for his painting “Real Ones Never Fail.”

“Alex created a Pop Art influenced self-portrait that showcased his emotion and background,” said Walt Whitman principal Craig Herring. “He combined proportions of the face, color theory, and expression to paint a creative composition using various painting techniques.”

Stewart was one of three Whitman students recognized in the regional competition, and Herring credited art teacher Shunnie Chough for invigorating the school’s young artists.

“[Chough] has helped students develop and display their artistic talents in spectacular ways,” said Herring. 

Other Gold Key winners from Richmond Highway-area schools included Hayfield’s Miriam Gibson, who had two pieces qualify for the national competition.

The Gold Key and Silver Key winners from FCPS will have their works displayed at Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale campus from Feb. 9 to March 15. 

The full list of regional award winners from Richmond Highway-area schools:

Name Place Category Title of artwork
Edison High School
Sarah An Honorable Mention Painting “Clippings of Flowers”
Hayfield Secondary School
Marisa Brown Honorable Mention Mixed Media Fear of Falling”
Miriam Gibson Gold Key Drawing and Illustration Self Reflection”
Miriam Gibson Honorable Mention Drawing and Illustration Alzheimer’s Hand”
Miriam Gibson Gold Key Painting Boston View”
Humaira Halim Silver Key Mixed Media Road Trip”
Humaira Halim Honorable Mention Painting the Falls”
Cameron Hobbs Silver Key Painting “Mr. Preacher Man”
Cameron Hobbs Honorable Mention Drawing and Illustration “End of The Day”
Cameron Hobbs Gold Key Painting “Blue Line”
Cameron Hobbs Silver Key Art Portfolio “Like Her”
Vianka Rivera Gold Key Digital Art “Postpone”
Ryan Yom Gold Key Film & Animation “Playdough Friends”
Mount Vernon High School
Kha Cao Honorable Mention Photography “Milling”
Raiyan Chowdhury Honorable Mention Digital Art “Blind Side”
LeKarriah Davis Silver Key Photography “Triple Exposer”
Natalie Pineda Honorable Mention Art Portfolio “INTERSECTIONS”
Falak Rafi Silver Key Mixed Media “228 Promises”
Leyli Sanchez Silver Key Photography “icon”
Ayana Williams Honorable Mention Fashion “A Mid-summer’s Dream”
Darrell Wright Honorable Mention Sculpture “Unlock it but Lock it”
Bianca Ya¤ez Honorable Mention Photography “Societal Pressures”
West Potomac High School
Jackson Bates Gold Key Sculpture “Space Buggy”
Gabrielle Farmer Honorable Mention Art Portfolio “Family Ties”
Caroline Gardner Honorable Mention Art Portfolio “Expression”
Kaylie Kopicki Silver Key Drawing and Illustration “London”
Alexandra Kroeger Honorable Mention Photography “Trivialized Movements”
Kiki Lapan Honorable Mention Art Portfolio “From the Bridge”
Kiki Lapan Honorable Mention Photography “Burn”
Taylor Petteway Gold Key Art Portfolio “Confidently Lost”
Taylor Petteway Honorable Mention Photography Not Hiding”
Walt Whitman Middle School
Christaleigh Amilale Honorable Mention Painting “Me POP”
Dakota Bice Honorable Mention Drawing and Illustration “The Land of Plenty”
Alex Stewart Gold Key Painting “Real Ones Never Fail”