This year, 12 Lampeter-Strasburg High School (LSHS) students received Scholastic Art Awards and 19 LSHS students received Lancaster County Young Artist Awards.

Since 1923, the Scholastic Art Awards have identified students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and presented their work to the world. The awards give students opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships. The Lancaster County Young Artist Awards is a regional competition open to any student attending school in a participating district. Students and their teachers decide which competition to enter or to enter both. Categories include apparel, ceramics and glass, computer art, drawing, fibers, graphic design, jewelry and metals, mixed media, painting, photography, portfolio, printmaking, and sculpture.

"The work these students submit are more than just an assignment between the student and the teacher," noted Margaret Lau, LSHS art teacher. "The students get a sense of validation and a great sense of accomplishment when they're selected."

Jasmine Thompson and Wren Miller are the recipients of two of the Red Raven Art Company Scholarship Awards. Miller has been awarded the 2020 Carlson Art Scholarship and will show as the emerging artist at Red Raven Art Company in downtown Lancaster during the month of July. Thompson has been awarded the 2020 Mitch Lyons Clay Scholarship and will show at Red Raven as the emerging artist during the month of August.

"The scholarships go right to their colleges," explained Scott Cantrell, LSHS art teacher. "The recipients get to display their work at the gallery, write up a contract, and can make full commission by selling their artwork. Red Raven doesn't take a cut because they're emerging artists."

Josie Lau and Thompson were selected to show in the National K-12 Ceramic Exhibit. Thompson won an Artistic Achievement Award for her sculpture and Josie won an Honorable Mention Award for her coil pot. Alyssa Zaepfel and Lana Dyer each earned a National Medal in the 2021 Scholastic Art Awards. Zaepfel won a gold medal for her painting, and Dyer earned a silver medal for her photography. Their work will be published online via the Scholastic Galleries in June, and an online ceremony will take place Wednesday, June 9.

"When you look at the national competition, you see very diverse work," added Jennifer Brass, LSHS art teacher. "Categories have changed over the years due to the advent of technology, which presents a great opportunity for the students to explore their creativity."

The artists' work is included in a virtual Demuth Museum and Lancaster Museum of Art exhibition from March 9 to Friday, April 30.

"I always tell the parents that in any of the art classes, their children will acquire all the skills they need to go into any field," said Margaret. "Frankly, they don't always get these skills without taking a hands-on approach, and that's what they get with the fine arts."

To view the artwork online, visit http://www.demuth.org/exhibitions-lma/lcya-2021.