By Barb Childs

The Schack Art Center has awarded nine local student artists with regional Gold Key Scholastic Art Awards. These winners have created the most outstanding works of art and writing in our region and will be forwarded to New York City to be assessed on a national level.

The Scholastic Arts Award program gives thousands of students throughout America the opportunity to broaden their creative horizons while earning local and national recognition. The objective is to foster the confidence of young artists and give them the opportunity to be recognized for their creative achievements by the world at large. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards were founded in 1923, and have become the nation’s largest and longest running program of its kind. This year’s regional competition included 820 entries from students throughout Snohomish County.

Local winners include:

Gold Key Recipients:

Meadowdale H.S.  Megan Cho, Hyangsook Kwak, Nolan Mottle, Eden Seifu, Kathryn Southworth, Haley Suarez

Soundview School  Holly Herter, Adrienna Tran-pearson

Silver Key Recipients:

Meadowdale H.S.  Megan Cho, Takae Goto, Hyangsahm Samantha Lee (2), Rachael Lee, Andrew Saxon, Eden Seifu, Haley Suarez

Soundview School  Michael Rashid

Honorable Mention Recipients:

Meadowdale H.S.  Naomi Allen, Brooke Bonnell, Takae Goto, Keely Hayes, Mackenzie Jones, Evie Landis, Hyangsahm Samantha Lee, Jenny Monico, Nolan Mottle, Nathan Nosek, Joelle Roehl, Andrew Saxon, Chris Tanner

Soundview School  Angela Bleeker

The public is invited to view the Scholastic Art Portfolio Exhibit, which will be on display Feb. 6-March 3 in the Emerging Young Artists’ Gallery at the Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt Ave., Everett. An exhibit of the individual entries will be featured in the Main Gallery from Feb. 18-24 with the Opening Reception held on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 5-9 p.m. at the Schack Art Center. Public recognition will be given that same evening at The Scholastic Art Awards Ceremony, which is being held at the Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

An extended exhibit of the American Vision Best of Show and Gold recipient pieces will later be featured in the Emerging Young Artists’ Gallery March 5-27. Regular gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 10-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10-5 p.m. and Sunday, 12-5 p.m.

The Regional Scholastic Art Awards are co-sponsored by the Schack Art Center, Everett Cultural Arts Commission, Melby, Cameron & Anderson, Cascade Coffee, Inc. and our H’Arts Patrons.

Barb Childs studied pottery at Central Washington University while earning a degree in Business Administration and Community Health Education. She has over 25 years of experience working in the studio, teaching pottery and organizing local art shows, including chairing the Edmonds Art Studio Tour for four years. She also spent 13 years teaching art in a K-8 school. Barb’s work may be seen in Semantics Gallery, Shoreline Arts Council Gallery, Schack Art Center and many local seasonal shows.