The latest virtual exhibition proves that the future is bright for young artists. Hosted by the Department of Art + Design, Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts and Letters, and the Board of Governors of Missouri State University, the Juried Exhibition for High School Art + Design Students recognizes the artistic strengths of high school students in Missouri and surrounding areas.

The exhibition is on view now and can be accessed through the “virtual exhibitions” link on the University Galleries webpage. Submissions were juried by Art + Design Associate Professors Jimmie Allen, Deidre Argyle, and Duat Vu. From nearly 500 pieces entered, the jurors selected only 186 of the very best works for this selective exhibition. The works were juried into three categories: top-prize winners of the scholarship awards, Merit Awards, and Honorable Mention Awards.

Winners of the first, second, and third place honors have been awarded monetary prizes in the form of scholarships ranging from $1000 to $500, redeemable towards tuition for the Department of Art + Design at Missouri State. This year, Ashton Adams of Ozark High School was awarded first place, Evey Shults of Lee’s Summit West High School was awarded second place, and Faith Lunow of Carl Junction High School was awarded third place in the exhibition.

Merit Awards were selected to recognize emerging talent and strong foundational skills. The following students had their artwork selected for a merit award:

Bella Abell, Ashton Adams, Kylie Bolerjack, William Brown, Chloe Chapman, Ari Cole, Shelby Corum, Stephanie Dailey, Tori Dibert, Elaina Dyke, Kelsey Gifford, Maddie Harp, Sadie Hunel, Brooklyn Johnson, Faith Lunow, Caroline Robison, Even Shults, Allie Sims, Kaz Trude, Olivia Walker, Kate Wexell, and Lalani Yang.

The jurors recognized a number of strong entries with honorable mention awards. A diverse range of mediums and skill sets highlight the distinct talents of this year’s participating students. The following students were awarded Honorable Mention recognition:

Carson Adams, Savannah Amado, Ella Anthony, Kiera Arnold, Anna Baker, Charley Bennight, Ava Billharz, Taylor Bingham, Lily Blalock, Emma Bland, Sailor Bodenhausen, Analia Boxdorfer, :ucky Brattin, Kailey Brewer, Rebecca Brown, Emily Brown, Anja Bumba, Addison Carlson, Lydia Clark, Jenna Collier, Donovan Comer, Molly Cook, Sydney Cook, Anastasia Cope, Stephanie Dailey, Thomas Depeder, Ashlin Dillard, Elaina Dyke, Tantiyana Eureka, Whitney Farrington, Itzel (Xic) Garcia, Ted Gard, Kelsey Gifford, Michaela Gifford, Michaela Gillan, Emily Goeglein, Kendra Goodman, Lila Gralnick, Brennan Greenwell, Isaiah Haines, Faith Jarvis, Brooklyn Johnston, Syri Jones, Avery Jones, Emma Lanigan, Sammi Layton, Rachel Lin, Grace Long, Faith Lunow, Cheyenne Maasen, Kierstin Maddox, Elli Martin, Lindsey Martin, Hannah Mathew, Isabella Mautino, Tucker Maxwell, Lucy McCoy, August McWherter, Kendall Meadors, Kyra Merritt, Odalis Meza, Kara Miller, Ava Moll, Payton Morgan, Kathryn Moyers, Maggie Myracle, Ace Nedanovski, Alexis Nessle, Shelby Noyes, Isabella Nunez, Camilla Parker, Libbie Priggel, Ren Reeder, Naomi Rendell, Bronson Retherford, Samantha Rhoades, Lexi Rigsby, Sophia Robinson, Caroline Robinson, Aliesza Secoy, Charlee Sharpsteen, Stalee Sheaffer, Vanitas Sherill, Jonathan Shipman, Rayne Shivers, Evey Shults, Paige Sides, Nevaeh Soward, Anna Steiger Marah Surdyke, Mason Sutton, Maximus Thoenen, Trisha Thornton, Kadeisha Thorpe, Abby Tolbert, Brittany Urena, Madison VanAlstine, Autumn Warner, William Warren, Kaylee West, Kate Wexell, Kaycie Wilmes, Abrianna Windmon, Amber Winrow, Natasha Wood, Noelle Wood, Max Yang, and Ginny Young.

Students interested in entering next year’s juried exhibition can submit entries beginning October 1, 2022. The entry deadline is October 24, 2022, and the 2023 exhibition opens June 1, 2023. Generous donor support will offer increased scholarship award amounts for 2023 prize winners.

Additional details are available for download. For questions or inquiries about the exhibition, contact Jodi McCoy at JMcCoy@missouristate.edu or Dr. Steve Willis at SteveWillis@MissouriState.edu.

Taylor Ladd is a graduate assistant for the Department of Art + Design. She is working towards her master’s degree in writing at Missouri State University with professional interests in writing about art, culture, and food.