Area winners in art, writing event
Weddington, Sun Valley students advance in Mid-Carolina contest
STEVE LYTTLE

Several Union County students were winners recently in the annual Mid-Carolina Region Scholastic Art and Writing awards competition.

The event was open to students in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln and Union counties and drew 1,700 entries in the arts and writing divisions.

Gold Key winners advanced to national competition in New York. They and the second-place Silver Key winners were honored at a reception last month in Charlotte.

The top winners were the American Vision awards, which were a "best of show" honor for students in various categories.

This year's show was organized by a pair of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools arts coordinators -- Dean Johns, Director of Arts Education; and Cheryl Maney, Visual Arts and Dance Specialist. The two got help from ArtsTeach, the Charlotte-based organization that provides funding for programs that use the arts to help with the general curriculum.
The event is considered the top student art competition annually in the Piedmont.

TOP AWARDS
American Vision Art nominees: Soo Jin Kim (Myers Park High); Justin Hall (Harding University High); Sam Keesler (Hopewell High), Madison Murphy (Charlotte Country Day); Anneke Demmink (Northwest School of the Arts).

American Vision Writing nominees: Kaitlin Barnes (Providence High); Natashe Duarte (Gaston Day); Colin Keil (Charlotte Latin); Grace Um (Providence High).

ART GOLD KEY WINNERS
Drawing: Godwin Abiola (Weddington Middle).
Printmaking: Andrew DiCharry (Sun Valley High).
Sculpture: Alene Harfmann (Weddington Middle).

ART SILVER KEY WINNERS
Drawing: Kat Perez (Sun Valley High).
Printmaking: Caroline Cutrone, two awards (Weddington Middle).
Sculpture: Robert Nelson (Weddington Middle).