LARWILL – The Whitko High School Art Department recently competed in the 2025 Regional Scholastic Art Contest in Fort Wayne.
This year, 2,053 artworks were entered from schools in the region from parts of Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio. Whitko High School art students won 13 scholastic awards: three Gold Keys (National Finalist), four Silver Keys (Outstanding in Region Awards) and six honorable mentions (Regional Awards), according to a news release from Whitko Community Schools..
The gold key winners' art pieces will now proceed for national judging in New York City. The winning pieces will be on display at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. The exhibition will be at FWMoA from Feb. 10 to April 7. FWMoA hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Sunday noon-5 p.m.
“I’m proud of my students’ pursuit for excellence. 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,” said Whitko art teacher Daniel Malicki.
The winning pieces and students are Emma Morse, 11th grade, “The Doctor is Waiting,” printmaking, Gold Key; Cassidy Skinner, 12th grade, “Loss of Innocence,” painting, Gold Key; Chloe Thompson, 12th grade, “Echos of Color and a Geode,” mixed medium, Gold Key; Aleeya Cramer, 12th grade, “Dad’s Garage,” drawing and illustration, Silver Key; Cassidy Skinner, 12th grade, “Flower Girl,” drawing and illustration, Silver Key; Alena Hindbaugh, 11th grade, “King of the Mountain,” drawing and illustration, Silver Key; Chloe Thompson, 12th grade, “Retro Rewind,” printmaking, Silver Key; Hope Bradley, 12th grade, “Trots and Dots,” mixed medium, honorable mention; Madison Cripe, 12th grade, “Fall Behind,” drawing and illustration, honorable mention; Madison Cripe, 12th grade, “Abandoned Memories,” printmaking, honorable mention; Yareli Meyo, 11th grade, “Deserted Delight,” mixed medium, honorable mention; Emma Morse, 11th grade, “Marveling in the Moment,” mixed medium, honorable mention; and Catherine Deckena, 11th grade, “Moo Moo,” printmaking, 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.