BRHS Student Wins Governor's Award For Art Education

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Sharanya Ram, a senior at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, was named the Governor’s Award winner of the 2024 Visual Art Student Achievement Award.

"I am really honored. There are a lot of students in New Jersey who submitted," Sharanya said. "I was confident, but I did not expect this."

Sharanya's "portfolio was selected from a pool of very talented artists across New Jersey," according to Art Administrators of New Jersey (AANJ) Executive Board. "Our panel felt that your artwork stood out for its originality, craftsmanship, use of media, and the application of the elements and principles of art."

Sharanya was invited to become a candidate for the Visual Art Student Achievement Award after receiving the Merit Award at the AANJ Emerging Artist Show held at Kean University on Jan. 28.

A total of 24 high schools from throughout New Jersey submitted 37 pieces of artwork that were judged during the AANJ exhibit at Kean University.

Sharanya’s portfolio of her 10 best artworks submitted to the AANJ featured her prized painting titled: "Self Portrait In The Heat."

"That is the one that got this award for me," Sharanya said.

Sharanya will receive $200 from the AANJ for her award.

Her artworks were also previously accepted into the 2024 National Art Honor Society/New Jersey Art Honor Society Juried Exhibition on Feb. 22.

And on March 27, three of her paintings— "In Your Eyes," "Wanderer," and her prized work, "Self Portrait In The Heat" —earned her a Golden Key award at the 2024 Scholastic Art Awards.

Sharanya will enroll in Raritan Valley Community College's Honors College program to study Computer Science. She may continue to display her skills with a paintbrush.

This is the second year in a row Bridgewater-Raritan High School received the Governor's Award. In 2023, Crystal Zhang received it.

"Two years in a row for Bridgewater-Raritan," said one of the judges Margaret El of the Newark Public Schools. "They are doing something right."

View Sharanya's portfolio that she submitted for her award - Sharanya Ram's Portfolio.