MHS Artists Create Winning Works
Mason High School visual art students put on an outstanding performance in this year's Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Thirty-three students won a grand total of 55 awards in this year's competition. This more than doubles last year's winnings of 23 awards. Seven students won the highest honors avaliable by having portfolios of eight of their best artworks chosen as Gold Key winners: Caitlyn Crites, Sarah Fukatsu, Paul Giovis, Omair Hussain, Jenny Shen, Andrew Tremblay, and Courtney Wittikend.
All of Mason's award winners, as well as the winners from other schools are currently on display in Covington, Kentucky. On Feburary 15, the student artists were featured during an artist reception and award ceremony. All award winning artists were recognized and some have a chance at scholarship prizes.
In addition to the winning portfolios, twelve of Mason's students artists were awarded the Gold Key honors in individual categories. Winners of the Gold Key, amounting to top honors in a particular art category, include: Laura Adams, Dale Hupke, Julia Hustedt, Elizabeth Kelly, Beckie Kroger, Rina Nagai, Robert Rushton, Jen Setters, Andrew Trembley, Taylor Vogel, Danni Wu, and Meredith Waddell. Notably, Robert Rushton and Danni Wu both had their pieces nominated for the American Visions Award. This award is the "best-in-show" award and will be determined during national adjudication. Along with the portfolio winners, these twelve Gold Key winners will have their regional award winning pieces forwarded to New York City for national judging.
Mason High School competes in a very large region that extends from Northern Kentucky to Yellow Springs, Ohio. Mason's delegation of 55 award winners is the second largest group in the region, and the largest of any school in the Greater Cincinnati area. For comparison, Sycamore High School recieved 29 awards, Lakota West received 28 awards, Lakota East High School received 20 awards, Milford High School recieved 10, and Oak Hills received 3.
Mason has had its share of recent successin the annual national level. Winners on the national stage have included Samantha Meyers and Neha Praksah, both with national Gold Keys in Fiber Arts in 1998, Samantha Cash with a national Gold Key in Fibers in 2000, Andy Rowland with a national Silver Key in Drawing in 2003, Dan Rowe with the American Visions Award in Sculpture in 2004, Drew Shields with a national Gold Key and American Visions Award in Drawing in 2006, and Gina Scibetta with a national Silver Key in Computer Art in 2006.
Below is a complete list of Mason High School award winners along with their categories and teachers. All of these students' work can be seen during the regional exhibition and awards ceremony.
Art Porfolios
Caitlyn Crites- Gold Key (taught by Liesa Eichner)
Sarah Fukatsu- Gold Key (taught by Liesa Eichner)
Paul Giovis- Gold Key (taught by Aaron Roberts)
Omair Hussai- Gold Key (taught by Tina Roberts and Andrea Gerard)
Jenny Shen- Gold Key (taught by Liesa Eichner and Audrey Gorman)
Andrew Tremblay- Gold Key (taught by Beth Eline)
Courtney Wittikend- Gold Key (taught by Liesa Eichner and Audrey Gorman)
Ceramics and Glass- Taught by Karan Witham-Walsh
Chloe Crites- Honorable Mention
Mauricio Trujillo- Honorable Mention
Computer Art- Taught by Aaron Roberts
Laura Adams- Gold Key, Silver Key
Dale Hupke- Gold Key
Rina Nagai- Gold Key
Robert Rushton- Gold Key, American Visions Award Nominee
Taylor Vogel- Gold Key
Jessica Burkhart- Silver Key
Sarah Fukatsu- Honorable Mention
Sara Olson- Honorable Mention
Design: Products- Taught by Beth Eline
Lauren Simendinger- Silver Key
Drawing- Taught by Liesa Eichner, Beth Eline, and Pam Valentine
Sarah Fukatsu- Silver Key
Beckie Kroeger- Gold Key
Jen Setters- Gold Key
Andrew Tremblay- Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention (2X)
Meredith Waddell- Gold Key, Honorable Mention
Danni Wu- Gold Key, American Visions Award Nominee, Silver Key
Dale Hupke- Silver Key
Ossian Mendoza- Silver Key
Courtney Wittekind- Silver Key
Brian Atkinson- Honorable Mention
Emily Cornett- Honorable Mention
Iten Elyassaki- Honorable Mention
Glorimar Garcia- Honorable Mention
Paul Giovis- Honorable Mention
Dena Landando- Honorable Mention
Collin Martin- Honorable Mention
Sam Mink- Honorable Mention
Sarah Read- Honorable Mention
Painting- Taught by Beth Eline, Liesa Eichner and Audrey Gorman
Ossian Mendoza- Silver Key
Jenny Shen- Silver Key, Honorable Mention
Meredith Waddell- Silver Key
Iten Elyassaki- Honorable Mention
Courtney Wittekind- Honorable Mention
Photography- Taught by Tina Roberts and Andrea Gerard
Alexandra Hill- Honorable Mention
Sculpture- Taught by Liesa Eichner and Beth Eline
Elizabeth Kelly- Gold Key
Courtney Wittekind- Silver Key, Honorable Mention
