Visitors examine art at a High School Area Show at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Photo via fb.com
A group of teens in the region have won $600,000 total in scholarships to six Midwest art institutions.
The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, or KIA, hosted its 36th-annual High School Area Show last month to celebrate and display the work of 90 artists from 25 high schools in Allegan, Berrien, Branch, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties.
The art exhibition featured prize winners selected by Julie Tourtillotte, professor of art at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana.
“The high quality of the submissions required me to make difficult decisions, so I congratulate each of the student artists who are included,” Tourtillotte said. “The works were selected for their originality, conceptual strength and technical quality. I was impressed not only by the caliber of the artwork, but by the range of media, subjects and ideas explored.”
After reviewing digital entries from the participating students in advance, representatives from six higher education institutions attended the event and handed out additional awards and scholarships valued at more than $600,000.
The schools include the Cleveland Institute of Art, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Stamps School of Art and Design at University of Michigan, Kendall School of Art and Design, Gwen Frostic School of Art at Western Michigan University and Kirk Newman Art School at the KIA.
For the fourth year, the exhibition also partnered with the 6th Congressional District to select a representative for the Congressional Art Competition. Cameron Hoogstraten, of Otsego High School, won the honor for her work, “Native American Dancer,” a digital illustration that will hang in the U.S. Capitol for a year. Hoogstraten will also receive round-trip airfare for two to Washington, D.C. to see her work on display.
All of the student work is on display through June 4 at KIA.
Each exhibiting artist was awarded a family membership to KIA through the end of the summer.
KIA awards
Juror’s Award, $100
Eli Hart, Portage Northern High School
Erica Heathcote, St. Joseph High School
Ashton Ingles, Wayland Union High School
Erin Kirkpatrick, Kalamazoo Central High School
Willa Kuttner, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School
Alexandra Ziebarth, Water Street Glassworks
Juror’s Honorable Mentions
Taylor Bell, Schoolcraft High School
Sarah Brabon, Vicksburg High School
Bella Chadwick, Portage Northern High School
Evangeline Contreras, Van Buren Technology Center
Jaymie Daniel Gapayao, Vicksburg High School
Anthony Fund, Three Rivers High School
Samuel Gonzales, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School
Amelia Hansen, Portage Northern High School
Cameron Hansen, Kirk Newman Art School
Cameron Hoogstraten, Otsego High School
Madeline Jump, Portage Central High School
Nchuyekeh Mba, Portage Northern High School
Malaynah Leach, Vicksburg High School
Madison McAllister, Portage Central High School
Lili Mead, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School
Hanna Norland, St. Joseph High School
Haley Rich, St. Joseph High School
Emily Roth, St. Joseph High School
Courtney Shinaberry, St. Joseph High School
Samantha Veltrie, Three Rivers High School
Chelsea Whelham, Portage Central High School
Scholarship award winners
Cleveland Institute of Art pre-college summer program scholarships
Makala Carr, Centreville High School
Emma Neuser, St. Joseph High School
Alexandra Ziebarth, Water Street Glassworks
Cleveland Institute of Art four-year scholarships
Amelia Hansen, Portage Northern High School
Malaynah Leach, Vicksburg High School
Sarah Wheaton, Paw Paw High School
Kendall College of Art and Design, Ferris State University, Portfolio Camp scholarships
Makala Carr, Centreville High School
Cameron Hoogstraten, Otsego High School
Emma Neuser, St. Joseph High School
Kendra Eaton, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School
Lili Mead, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School
Malaynah Leach, Vicksburg High School
Amelia Hansen, Portage Northern High School
Haley Rich, St. Joseph High School
Kendall College of Art and Design, Ferris State University, Seniors for $cholarship awards
Evangeline Contreras, Van Buren Tech Center
Jaymie Daniel Gapayao, Vicksburg High School
Ashton Ingles, Wayland Union High School
Eli Hart, Portage Northern High School
Maggie Palmiter, Watervliet High School
Gwen Frostic School of Art, Western Michigan University, four-year scholarships
Kendra Eaton, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School
Chelsea Whelham, Portage Central High School
Emma Neuser, St. Joseph High School
Amelia Hansen, Portage Northern High School
Alexandria Seybold, Portage Northern High School
Madison McAllister, Portage Central High School
Stamps School of Art and Design, University of Michigan, BFA Preview pre-college scholarship
Kendra Eaton, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design full-ride scholarship
Erica Heathcote, St. Joseph High School
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design Presidential Scholarship Award
Hanna Norland, St. Joseph High School
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design BFA Admissions Scholarship Awards
Emily Roth, St. Joseph High School
Haley Rich, St. Joseph High School
Amelia Hansen, Portage Northern High School
Sarah Wheaton, Paw Paw High School
Kirk Newman Art School, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, scholarships for a summer class
Erin Kirkpatrick, Kalamazoo Central High School
Chelsea Whelham, Portage Central High School
Samantha Veltrie, Three Rivers High School
Sierra Stevens, Vicksburg High School
Ashton Ingles, Wayland Union High School