Harris County Students Bring Home Honors from Art Competition

The well-established caliber of the art program within the Harris County School District (HCSD) continues as its students received more than half of the honors at the third annual Art Gala for the Biologically Inclined, a program created and presented as a joint effort by the Harris County High School (HCHS) Work-Based Learning Program and The Hughston Foundation.

Georgia’s middle school and high school students were invited to participate in this biological and medically inspired art competition intended to encourage students to create artwork while integrating the principle areas of the national STEAM initiative (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).

The awards were presented Thursday, November 12, at a private viewing, with social-distancing measures in place, as well as virtually. After a blind judging of the 106 entries, a new record of submissions, 12 of the 19 winners were Harris County students, which include:

Harris County Carver Middle School

Molly Rickard, 8^th grade, Second place, Middle School STEAM Award, $750, “You Light Up My Life”

Kaylee Mclean, 7^th grade, Third place, Middle School STEAM Award, $500, “My Heart Beats True”

Lindsey Hanson, 8^th grade, Honorary Media Award-Mixed Media, Gift Bag, “Decayed Skull”

Zachary Madrigal, 8^th grade, Honorary Media Award-Painting, Gift Bag, “Dia de Muertos”

Mary Rehrauer, 8^th grade, Honorary Media Award-3D, Gift Bag, “The Breath of Life”

Allie Webb, 7^th grade, Honorary Media Award-Drawing, Gift Bag, “Flourishing Thoughts”

Hailey Westmoreland, 8^th grade, Honorary Media Award-Photography, Gift Bag, “The Decay of Our Pastime”

Harris County High School

Emily Hughes, 10^th grade, First Place, High School STEAM Award, $1,500, “Strength Within”

Massie Wirth, 11^th grade, Third Place, High School STEAM Award, $500, “The Heart of Hughston”

Aiva Massey, 12^th grade, Honorary Media Award-3D, Gift Bag, “Dance of Life”

Molly McClendon, 10^th grade, Champ Baker Award, $350, “Arm Muscles”

Alexiss LaTorre, 9^th grade, Champ Baker Award, $350, “Handle with Care”

“Thank you to all of the teachers for encouraging your students every day both in their art and also to enter their work into the Gala,” said Belinda J. Klein, executive director and director of medical imagery for The Hughston Foundation. “Most of all, thank you to the students for being a part of this experience, it is each of you that has made this event a grand success.”

In addition to the awards, the evening included two special presentations. Renowned artist Bo Bartlett addressed the group by pre-recorded video. Speaking directly to the students, he encouraged them to explore all types of learning opportunities to grow their skill, regardless of what discipline of art they may end up working within, especially with regards to human anatomy. Bartlett ended his presentation with a walk through his studio.

The second were representatives from Augusta University, including Professor William Andrews of the school’s College of Allied Health Sciences Department of Medical Illustration, who provided a slideshow presentation of biological illustration and video that is representative of their curriculum as well as relevant to the modern world of medicine.

Sponsors for this event include The Hughston Clinic, Georgia Healthcare Science Technology Education Foundation, Xpress Printing, Office Depot, Safeguard, and Innovative Supplies.

This event is produced jointly by The Hughston Foundation and the Work-Based Learning Program of Harris County High School (HCHS). This opportunity was promoted across Georgia in schools, major hospitals, and doctors’ offices. Entries were received from 13 schools as far north as Cummings and as far east as Savannah.

“Our partnership and the art Gala is one that is very special and unique since we have a mutual interest in student achievement, supporting the STEAM initiative, and sharing the love of art across the state of Georgia,” said Gary Johannes, HCHS Work-Based Learning Program coordinator and current president of the related state-wide organization.

The art will be on display through Friday, November 20, in the lobby of The Hughston Foundation, which is located at 6262 Veterans Parkway, Columbus, Ga. The display also is available online at the following links:

High School: https://forms.gle/hUpkRcv4ydBCysUSA

Middle School: https://forms.gle/ekMo5QBk7h4k8xQY9