VHS Students Shine at Artistic Excellence Awards Show
Seven schools participated in this regional event where students win cash prizes for their art. Each school can only send 16 pieces total over 8 categories of art. They award up to 8 First Place, 8 Second Place, 8 Third Place for each age division (freshmen/sophomore in one; junior/senior in another. ) They also award as many Honorable Mention as they want (no cash prize) while one piece is selected "Best In Show."
After they corrected a missing ribbon/award, our students just missed out on Top Earning School by $25. (Dobyns Bennett got Best In Show which was a $250 prize by itself, and it pushed them over the top.)
Virginia High: 6 - 1st, 4 - 2nd, 2 - 3rds, 2 - Hon Mention. (Money won: $1000)
Dobyns Bennet: 4 1st, 3 2nd, 3 3rds, 3 Hon Mention, Best In Show ($1025)
Tennessee High: 4 1st, 3 2nd, 1 3rd, 4 HM ($675)
West Ridge: 1 1st, 1 2nd, 3 3rd, 4 HM ($325)
Patrick Henry, VA: 2 2nds, 1 3rd, 2 HM ($200)
Abingdon, VA: 1 1st, 1 2nd, 1 Hon Mention ($175)
Sullivan East: 1 Hon Mention
Kamilla Martin, Sunida Diaz and MacKenna Thomas all won two blue ribbons each-- so please congratulate them if you see them! Other winners included: Amaya Greer, Raveyon Bozeman, Jaelei Overstreet, Eva McBride and (from last semester) Kaylee Asani.
And lastly, senior Moira McKenzie is a finalist for the Ninth District Congressional Art Competition.
We won't find out until an announcement is made next week whether she will place 1st, 2nd or 3rd. If she places 1st, her work will hang in the Capitol for a year. If she places 2nd or 3rd, her work will be framed and will hang in either the Abingdon or Blacksburg Congressional offices for a year.
We have some very talented and hardworking young artists here. I know it is a busy time of year, but I wanted to bring their awards to your attention.
Thank you for your time and all your support for our art students.
--Debbi Martin, VHS Art
