Three McMinnville High School students earned top honors in the regional round of the national Scholastic Art Awards. Out of nearly 10,000 submissions, seniors Meg Murray, Aaron Dobkins and Gerardo Ceja won Gold Key designations, which will advance each entry into the national competition in New York City later this spring.
Murray won the Sculptural Portfolio category (pictured) with eight different creature mask/suit entries. She also won a Silver Key in the Individual Sculpture category and three Honorable Mentions for three entries in the Painting category.
Ceja won in the Drawing/Illustration category for “Today’s Catch,” and also earned an Honorable Mention in the Drawing category for “Odd Couple.”
Dobkins won the Drawing/Illustration category for “Dead.”
“The Scholastic Art Awards are one of the most prestigious recognition programs in the country,” said MHS art teacher Christine Garrison. “Each year the competition gets bigger, with a growing number of competitors and high profile judges.”
The Gold Key winners will be will be showcased at Oregon State University in March and advance to the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition in May.
Full list of winners:
Gold Key
Meg Murray, 3D Masks/Suits, Sculptural Portfolio
Gerardo Ceja, “Today’s Catch”
Aaron Dobkins, “Dead”
Silver Key
Sydney Hayward Horse Hair Pottery,
Meg Murray, “MHS Mascot”
Honorable Mention
Gerardo Ceja, Drawing “Odd Couple”
Aidan Hamel, Sculpture, “Twists and Turns” Portfolio (8 pieces) and “Cucurbita Pepo”
Lilia Hinds, Painting, “Dear JDH”
Harper Maselli, Photography, “Free”
Meg Murray, Painting, “Somber,” “Muggy,” “Hungry”
Sydney Sherrod, Drawing, “Stress,” “Women’s Work”
Justine Spencer, Painting, “All Bright”
Zelmira Vindas, Drawing, “Mother,” “Mundos”
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12. Students are judged on personal voice, technical skill and originality.