28 Foxborough High School Students Win Awards at Boston Globe Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

The following was submitted by Foxborough Assistant Superintendent of Schools Amy Berdos as part of the Foxborough School Committee's Teaching and Learning Highlight Series.

The Teaching and Learning Highlight at Monday’s School Committee meeting featured Foxborough High School student recipients of the 2017 Scholastic Art Awards. Foxborough High School Art Department Head, Ms. Kelly Arcacha, proudly shared that this year FHS students won a total of twenty-four art awards and four poetry awards in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards contest sponsored statewide by the Boston Globe. All of our art and writing submissions were judged based on the program’s three criteria: originality, technical skill and emergence of personal vision or voice.

The process began in December with the FHS Art Department selecting work to enter into the contest. Ms. Arcacha shared that “it is a magical time of year” waiting for the results. It is particularly exciting for seniors who are able to contact the colleges and universities they have applied to and add this to their application packet. The students are able to be seen as professional artists and writers she said. In describing the students approach to their art pieces, Ms. Arcacha said, “There is no set direction when it comes to the artwork, instead students are unlocking the box and seeing the world around them.” Ethan Hicks described the experience as a good one and one that helps move their artwork forward. According to Fabrice Mercier, “although we are our own worst critic, the process pushes us to take our most creative self and push past the analytics.”

Ms. Arcacha congratulated Mr. Walter Mitchell in the English department for his students winning in the poetry categories saying that once again students were recognized for their creative achievements in art and their innovations in writing. The high school English department recognizes and congratulates Rachel Freeman (12) for her two Silver Keys in Poetry, Billie Prescott (11) for her Silver Key in Poetry and Mary Spillane (10) for her Silver Key in Poetry.

The Art Department also recognized all award winners which included two seniors who received awards for their entire eight piece portfolios: Nicole MacFarland (12) – Silver Key (Art Portfolio) and Ethan Hicks (12) – Silver Key (Art Portfolio), also recognized were: Jack Ames (10) – Honorable Mention (Design), Gwen Calnan (11) – Honorable Mention (Painting), Allison Curran (12) – Silver Key (Digital Art), Olivia Davis (12) – Honorable Mention (Painting) and Honorable Mention (Drawing and Illustration), Sam Dindy (9) – Gold Key (Digital Art), James Donoghue (12) – Silver Key (Photography), Nick Esposito (11) – Honorable Mention (Design), Gold Key (Digital Art), Silver Key (Design), and Honorable Mention (Digital Art), Christian Kalcic (11) –Silver Key (Digital Art), and three Honorable Mentions (Sculpture), Ryan McCormack (12) – Honorable Mention (Digital Art), Mia Oglia (9) – Gold Key (Digital Art), Amy Traianou (9) – Silver Key (Digital Art), and Lindsey Young (10) – Honorable Mention (Photography).

All Gold Key award winning work will be on exhibit at the Boston Public Schools headquarters, the Bruce C. Bolling Building in Roxbury, from March 11-26. Digital images of Gold Key award winning work are currently being sent to New York City to compete on the national level. Congratulations were extended to all students for their hard work and dedication to the arts!

Image: File Photo