CENTRAL NEW YORK – Young artists from 14 counties and more than 90 middle and high schools in Central New York submitted thousands of their best artwork for national and local recognition in the 2023 CNY Academic Art Awards. Sponsored by M&T Bank and hosted by Onondaga Community College, this year’s winning entries will be on display through early March.
Earlier this month, volunteer judges—professional artists, educators and photographers—selected entries in 17 categories from 4,000 individual entries and 102 portfolio entries. More than 1,155 entries were awarded. A special awards ceremony at the SRC Arena/OCC campus on January 17th celebrated the Golden Keys – 1st place entry to the national competition, along with local prizes, cash prizes and special recognition.
As of March 3, the Whitney Center for Applied Technology at Onondaga Community College is exhibiting approximately 1,350 entries each day, including Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention recipients. Additionally, the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse will host a curated exhibition of student work March 11-April 9.
Entries determined to be the best in their respective categories will compete nationally and the results will be announced in the spring. Last year, the Central New York region produced 22 national champions. The Scholastic Art Awards program was founded in 1923 by Scholastic, Inc. It is the largest annual student art competition in the United States, and the CNY region has participated for more than 70 years. The CNY Art Council is a team of district art teachers who volunteer countless hours to coordinate programs in the district.
In addition to the ongoing support of OCC and M&T Bank, the CNY Arts Council has had many award sponsors over the course of 38 years, including: Light Work, Rudy Hellmann Photography, Tracy L. Haylor Memorial Fund, Syracuse Cultural Workers, Clayscapes, Independent Potters’ CNY Association, The Print Hub Syracuse, The Art Store, SI Newhouse Visual Communications, Purcell Construction Corp., The Sage Scholars Educational Foundation, and OCC Foundation.
2023 CNY Academic Art Award Winner – Oswego Area Schools
Golden Keys: Lillian Grennell, jewelry; Christian Morrow, digital art; Madison Tucci, jewelry.
Silver Key: Aiden Baxter, digital art; Samantha Moran, jewelry.
Honorable mentions: Dalton Bramer (2), Autumn Kellar, Anna Lowe, Samantha Moran, Christian Morrow, Oliver Randall, Emerson Widowski.
Golden Key: Madalyn Dann, Ceramics and Glass.
Silver Keys: Harry Potter, Porcelain and Glass.
Honorable Mention: Alexis Bickford.
john c bordburg high school
Honorable Mention for Portfolio: Alexander Bell.
Golden Key: Alexander Bell, photography.
Silver Key: Alexander Bell, photography; Ryleah Breckenridge, photography; Arlin Russo, digital art.
Honorable Mention: Erica Daiggert, Arlene Russo.
Emerson J Dillon Secondary School
The Golden Key: Jackson Collier, drawing and illustration.
Silver Key: Hailey Prickett, Mixed Media.
Honorable Mention: Sage Byrne, Jackson Collier, JJ “Juliet” Fyler, Hailey Szyikowski, Faith Thomas (2), Natasia Worley.
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