McAuley Art Students Take Top Honors in Scholastic Art Regional

Seven Mother McAuley High School art students received 11 top awards in the Scholastic Art Midwest Regional.

Mother McAuley art students Susan Devane ’17 (Beverly), Lanihya Duncan ’16 (South Holland), Frances Figel ’16 (Morgan Park), Kelly Fischer ’16 (Clearing), Faith Primozic ’17 (Orland Park), Ishbel Rodriguez ’16 (West Lawn) and Rachel Todd ’16 (Orland Park) took 11 top honors in the prestigious Scholastic Art, Midwest Regional competition.

The Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa serves as the Iowa and Midwest region-at-large affiliate for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program is the nation’s longest-running, largest, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. Over the past 90 years, the awards have recognized and encouraged artists and writers, such as Sylvia Plath, Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Robert Redford, Tom Otterness, Zac Posen, among countless others.

Teens in grades 7 through 12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published. Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. Honors are awarded as follows: Gold Keys to the top 5 to 7 percent of all entries; Silver Keys to the top 7 to 10 percent of all entries; Honorable Mention to the top 10 to 15 percent of all entries.

“I am so proud and excited to share the news about our Midwest Regional Scholastic Art Awardees,” said Kathy Gordon Davis, chair of McAuley’s Visual Arts & Technology Department.

“It is most gratifying to have their hard work recognized in such a prestigious competition. These intelligent, creative and skilled young women are truly a gift to our department, school and community. In a world that too often celebrates the mundane and focuses on the negative, how awesome is it to know creative thinking and visual expression are still alive and kicking,” Davis added,

Susan Devane ’17 was awarded two Gold Key awards, one in drawing and illustration and one in printmaking, as well as a Silver Key award in drawing and illustration; Faith Primozic ’17 was awarded a Gold Key and a Silver Key award, both in digital art.

Frances Figel ’16 earned a Gold Key in editorial cartoon, sponsored by the Herb Block Foundation; Lanihya Duncan ’16 was awarded a Silver Key award in drawing and illustration; and Rachel Todd ’16 was awarded two Silver Key awards, one in painting and one in mixed media.

Ishbel Rodriguez ’16 was awarded an Honorable Mention in drawing and illustration; and Kelly Fischer ’16 was awarded an Honorable Mention in painting.