Valley Stream 24 Art Students Shine at the Olympics of Visual Arts

Students participating in the Sixth-Grade Challenge Program at the Valley Stream 24 School District recently showcased their creativity and artistic abilities during the New York State Art Teachers Association’s Olympics of the Visual Arts in Saratoga Springs.

“The Olympics of Visual Arts was an incredible opportunity for our students to shine in a friendly and spirited competition with student artists from across the state,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Unal Karakas. “Our students stood out for their creativity, ingenuity, and passion in brainstorming and pursuing their project ideas. We are so proud of all our students for participating and thank our Challenge and art teachers for their guidance and preparation.”

During this day-long celebration of creativity and imagination, students conducted in-depth research and developed solutions to problems in the areas of illustration, painting, sculpture, drawing, and architecture. Documenting their historical research and analysis in a portfolio, students showcased the critical thinking, decision-making, and innovation that went into their original and inventive concepts.

Nathan Francisque earned second place in the illustration category for his project, "Building the Foundation of the Future," and Madelyn Campbell placed third in the sculpture category for her project, "Orchestrina of the Gilded Age." Judges also lauded Valley Stream 24 students for their impressive brainstorming abilities and the meticulous and coherent research that went into their projects.

The competition saw Valley Stream 24’s sixth-grade students competing at the middle school level against seventh and eighth-grade students from across New York. The district’s Art and Challenge departments worked collaboratively to prepare the students for the event. Challenge teacher Risa Miller and art teachers Jessica Rosenthal, Nicole Barci, and Leighanne Jaronczyk guided the students during the creative problem-solving competition.

The event was attended by over 50 professional artists, architects, graphic designers, fashion designers, illustrators, sculptors, photographers, and visual arts educators.

For more information about Valley Stream 24, please visit the District’s website at https://valleystreamschooldistrict24.org and ‘like’ our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VS24SchoolDistrict #MakeTheConnection #VS24