NEMCC ANNOUNCES HIGH SCHOOL ART WINNERS

by Michael H. Miller

BOONEVILLE, Miss. (04/11/2024) — Northeast Mississippi Community College's Division of Fine Arts has announced the winners of the 2024 NEMCC High School Art Competition that the college welcomed to campus during the month of March.

Ripley's Faith Penro captured Best of Show with "Self Portrait," while students from each of the college's five-county service district - Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union, submitted works for the juried exhibition.

In the Painting/Mixed Media category, Booneville's Ali Cooley took top honors with "Saturday in the City," while Ingomar's Niah Sowell was runner up in the category with "Apple of My Eye." Corinth's Jon Worth Garrett took home third place in painting/mixed media while Booneville's Lindsay Grantham and Sowell each were award honorable mentions for "Frisky," and "Blue Button Jelly," respectively.

In the 3-D Design/Ceramics category, Corinth's Victoria Espinosa took top honors with "Sweet"" while Belmont's Chloe Gassaway was runner up in the category with "Murder." Jumpertown's Jayda Cramer took home third place in 3-D Design/Ceramics with "The Golden Rabbit," while Ingomar's Kyla Parker received an honorable mention for "Twisted Faces."

In the Drawing (Black and White) category, Jumpertown's Palin Eaton took top honors with "Elephant Profile," while Jumpertown's Keylen Hurt was runner up in the category with "Pointillism Pear." Belmont's Ann Funderburk took home third place in Drawing (Black and White) while Ripley's Kenzie Hill and Belmont's Ailyn Rodriguez both received an honorable mention for "Still Life," and "Featured Friend," respectively.

In the Drawing (Colored) category, Corinth's Madison Gates took top honors with "Ross" while Corinth's Kurt Smith was runner up in the category with "After Thought." Booneville's Cindee Grove took home third place in Drawing (Colored)with "Kitchen Window", while Booneville's Makenzie Martin received an honorable mention for "Life in Bloom."

In the Printmaking/Photography/Digital category, Booneville made a clean sweep of the awards. Booneville's Macy Martin took top honors with "Fairyland" while Ali Cooley was runner up in the category with "Homework." Martin returned to take home third place in the printmaking/photography/digital category with "Wonderland."

In the 2-D Design category, Booneville's Cara Breedlove took top honors with "That's Alright Mama," while Sowell was runner up in the category with "The Reason." New Site's Aiden Oliver took home third place in 2-D Design with "Vision of Expression, while Corinth's Ellie Kate Reeves and Gassaway both earned honorable mentions in the category for "Notan," and "A Drop in the Universe," respectively.

Northeast welcomes entrants from the college's five county service district - Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union counties to enter into the annual high school art competition.

This year's competition was exhibited in the Anderson Hall Art Gallery from March 4 until March 21.

--NE75-