Medina County Visual Art Festival High School Senior Show winners named

MEDINA — The Educational Service Center of Medina County and the Medina County Art League named the award winners of this year's Medina County Visual Art Festival High School Senior Show. A total of 47 students from five Medina County school districts entered 173 works of art. The annual Medina County Visual Art Festival High School Senior Show ended May 1 at the Cleveland Clinic Medina Medical Office Building. The ESC, Medina County Art League, Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital and C.B. Richard Ellis presented the event. The following high school seniors who are continuing their art education have been selected to receive Medina County Art League's 2020 Continuing Art Education Scholarship Program awards: First place, Elyse Waldow, $1,000, Wadsworth High School, teacher Dave Derrig. She is planning to attend Miami University; Second place, Brooke Scranton, $700, Highland High School, teacher Pat Wise. She is planning to attend Kent State University; Third place, Megan Austin, $550, Highland, teacher Bonnie Kubilus, She is also planning to attend Kent State. "I want to congratulate this year's senior art students," Janet Baran, art league scholarship committee chair, said in a statement. "Once again, the quality and creativity were impressive, so the judges' decisions were difficult. We upgraded our judging criteria to better represent the requirements of Advanced Placement programs and Scholastic Arts. The portfolios needed to contain five works exhibiting consistent quality, cohesion and technical excellence. "Of course, Art League members were very disappointed that the award ceremony had to be canceled, because they love seeing the artwork and meeting our scholarship recipients. The winners' works have been posted on our website and Facebook page. They are very deserving and they are an inspiration." The ESC of Medina County expanded its awards this year for both portfolios and individual entries. This is the first year the ESC offered a scholarship in conjunction with the Visual Art Festival. The following students have been selected to receive awards from the ESC: Portfolio awards Best of Show: Elise Milburn, $500 scholarship, Medina High School, teacher Bobbie Foy; First place: Lily Coss, $130 gift card, Highland, teacher Kubilus; Second place: Madeline Bohan, $110 gift card, Cloverleaf High School, teacher Julie Krueger; Third place: Caleigh Stefanko, $85 gift card, Cloverleaf, teacher Krueger; Individual artwork awards Each of the following winners will receive a $25 gift card from the ESC to a local art supply store: Best mixed media: Kalina Trevino, Cloverleaf, teacher Krueger; Best of ceramics: Tyler Monastra, Buckeye High School, teacher Adam Zbydnowski; Best use of line: Alexis Divis, Highland, teacher Kubilus; Best use of scribble stroke: Caitlin Sammon, Medina, teacher Foy; Most dynamic scratchboard: Emilee Berchtold, Cloverleaf, teacher Krueger; Most expressive: Margaret Houska, Highland, teacher Kubilus; Most realistic painting: McKinley Kerans, Medina, teacher Lauren Smith; Pat Wise, coordinator of the Medina County Visual Art Festival High School Senior Show, said she enjoyed being a part of the artistic tradition. "It's always a pleasure seeing the culminating efforts of our county's high school seniors," she said. "Although we couldn't celebrate together in person, I hope that all the graduates celebrate their accomplishments and continue in their creative pursuits." The following sponsors were lauded for their support: Common Pleas Judge Joyce Kimbler, George and Mary Marg Marquis, Miss Molly's Tea Room, Dr. Dennis Schirripa and Brenda Zacharias. High school seniors who are students of Medina County visual arts teachers were eligible to participate, and both portfolios and individual entries were accepted. Artwork was to be original, school appropriate, and created in conjunction with school assignments. For students entering portfolios, the format is similar to a graduating art major in college who is required to hold a senior show.