(The Hoot News photo provided) Four Whitko High School students, from left, Chloe Thompson, Hannah Moore, Justine Ocken, and Carli Reeser, won nine Scholastic Art awards during the 2024 Regional Scholastic Art Contest in Fort Wayne. Three Gold Key winners will advance to national competition in New York City this summer. Fort Wayne Museum of Art is hosting the region-wide exhibit February 10 to April 7.
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The Whitko High School Art Department recently competed in the 2024 Regional Scholastic Art Contest in Fort Wayne. Individual art entries were submitted from schools 100 mile radius around our region, from parts of Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio. Whitko High School art students continued their tradition of success, winning nine Scholastic Art awards: three Gold Keys (national finalists); two Silver Keys (outstanding in region awards); and four honorable mentions (regional awards).
Whitko senior Justine Ocken received four regional Scholastic Art awards this year, finishing her high school career with 11 total scholastic awards.
The Gold Key award winners’ art pieces will proceed to national judging in New York City.
The winning pieces will be on display at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art from February 10 to April 7, 2024. FWMoA hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“I’m proud of my students’ pursuit of excellence,” said Whitko Junior Senior High School art teacher Daniel Malicki. “The FWMoA’s Scholastic region has collected a large amount of national awards totals in the country over the past several years now. This is quite an honor, they should all be proud of receiving any of the awards.”
Individual awards included:
Justine Ocken – Grade 12 – Mixed Media – “Ingrained” – Gold Key
Justine Ocken – Grade 12 – Mixed Media – “Loosen Your Reins” – Silver Key
Justine Ocken – Grade 12 – Drawing & Illustration – “Filly” – Honorable Mention
Justine Ocken – Grade 12 – Drawing & Illustration – “The Creatures Nearby” – Honorable Mention
Hannah Moore – Grade 10 – Mixed Media – “We Didn’t Start the Fire” – Gold Key
Hannah Moore – Grade 10 – Mixed Media – “Faces of Many Colors” – Silver Key
Hannah Moore – Grade 10 – Drawing & Illustration – “Scout Patches” – Honorable Mention
Carli Reeser – Grade 11 – Printmaking – “Penche” – Gold Key
Chloe Thompson – Grade 10 – Mixed Media – “Fresh Picked” – Honorable Mention
Entries are submitted in a number of different categories including: photography, drawing and illustration, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics and painting. All works go before a panel of judges experienced in the various mediums of art. Judges look at originality, personal vision and voice and technical skill. Awards given are: Honorable mention — Accomplished works submitted to local programs showing great skill and potential. Silver Key — Stand-out works that demonstrate exceptional ability. Gold Key awards are the very best works that are automatically considered for national-level recognition.
This year, 1694 artworks were entered in the 2024 Scholastic Art Awards of Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio. Of those, 400 received an honorable mention, Silver Key, or Gold Key in recognition of their outstanding creative achievements.