CMS Artistic Stars Shine

With crayons, markers and India ink, Hopewell High School sophomore Chuck Cannon created a self-portrait that won national recognition.

“We want to celebrate what our students are doing in art classes and showcase their work to emphasize that students have very diverse talents,” said Hopewell Principal Kendra March. “It’s important to recognize students’ abilities in other classes besides their core academic subjects in order to support the development of well-rounded students.”

Cannon, along with 13 other CMS middle and high school students, won a national Scholastic Art & Writing Award for originality of expression in classic and emerging art forms. There were more than 250,000 contestants. Cannon was one of more than 600 other award recipients who attended a June national awards’ ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Prizes include key pins, medals, certificates, publishing opportunities and college scholarships. The winners also explored New York City and met other student artists.

Like many CMS schools, Hopewell High School offers a full array of visual arts classes, including art level 1 through Advanced Placement art, crafts, photography, ceramics and graphic design.

“Art classes have a significant impact on student performance,” said Erin Carter, a Hopewell art teacher. “I have encountered students that have improved their SAT scores just by becoming familiar with vocabulary words and techniques we use in art classes.”

The complete list of CMS Scholastic Art & Writing Award winners includes: