UCS student artists honored as among nation's best

Four Utica Community Schools students were honored nationally for excellence in the visual arts.

The UCS students earned one Gold Medal honor and three Silver Medals through the National Scholastic Arts Competition. Gold Medals represent the most outstanding works in the nation and silver medals reflect high honors on the national level.

National Medals were presented to:

• Aleksa Fortuna, of Eisenhower High School, earned a silver medal in Fashion for Summertime.
• Steven Miner, of Eisenhower High School, earned a Gold Medal in photography for Places of Refuge: Shame.
• Lucienne Woods, of Eisenhower High School, earned a silver medal in painting for Gummy Train.
• Ryan Manauis, of the Utica Center for Science and Industry, earned a silver medal in digital art for Triangle Work.

Visual Arts teachers at Center for Science and Industry and Eisenhower High School are Mike Allore, Nancy Druia, and Jen Ramirez.

The Scholastic Arts Competition is a national program that honors the best in student-produced art and writing. Nearly 1,500 of the most talented students in grades 7-12, representing 45 states in the U.S., as well as students in American schools abroad, were chosen to receive national medals and will be honored in May at Carnegie Hall.

"The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards provide unprecedented opportunities for the nation's most creative teens through recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarships," said Virginia McEnerney, Executive Director of the Alliance. "Our jurors were drawn from the ranks of the most accomplished artists and writers working in America today. They were blown away by the quality, originality and spirit of the work, and many told us that they came away from the experience feeling optimistic and excited about the future of America’s creative leadership."

At the regional competition, nearly 200 honors were awarded Utica Community Schools students, with UCS students taking two of the five top awards and a best in show title.