Warsaw Community High School art students were highly decorated this year at the 2014 Scholastic Art Awards Competition. Warsaw received eight awards in the individual entry categories and four more awards in the senior portfolio category. The Gold Key winners go on for the next round of judging at the national level in New York. The recognition for individual student artists is a great honor and having artwork on display at a well-known gallery is very prestigious, according to WCHS art teacher Andy Tomasik. The individual students receiving Gold Key Awards were Briana Dunn, Ashley Neubaum, Megan Smith and Justin Wottring. The Silver Key winners were Christian Garver, Caroline Mayer, Jessica Skeans and Levi Skinner. In addition to the individual entries, the seniors in AP Studio Art also submitted their complete portfolios for selection in the region. This is a chance for students to pull together their finest pieces and package them into a well-organized and thoughtful presentation of their body of work. These are also used for scholarship applications, entrance into fine art programs and half of their AP portfolio for college credit. Tomasik said, “We are very proud that Christian Garver, Nick Newland, Megan Smith and Ryan Tynan all earned Gold Key Awards for their portfolios. Warsaw won more Gold Key Portfolio awards than any other high school in the region. We are all so proud of all of them for representing Warsaw so well at the regional and national level.” Along with these accomplishments, Ryan Tynan’s portfolio garnered more praise with a special award that is presented to an exceptional portfolio for the entire region of northern Indiana and Southwest Lower Michigan. Tynan will receive this special recognition at the awards presentation at the South Bend Museum of Art Feb. 9 and have his entire portfolio on display in the Warner Gallery for the duration of the Scholastic Art exhibit. The students’ works will be on display at the Warner Gallery at the South Bend Museum of Art until March 2.
