Wauwatosa students win art, writing regional awards

Students from Wauwatosa East and West high schools have won several Scholastic Art and Writing Regional Awards for 2009.

The awards recognize student achievement in the visual arts and creative writing.

Gold Key awards are given to students whose work demonstrates the highest levels of originality, technique and personal vision. Gold Key artwork is forwarded to New York for national adjudication. Silver Key awards are given to students whose work demonstrates achievement worthy of recognition on the regional level.

Regional winners from East High School are ninth-grader Sarah Armstrong for drawing for the Gold Key award; 12th-grader Ellen Blaser in mixed media for the Gold Key award; 12th-grader Davey Brown in photo for the Gold Key award; 12th-grader Mary Buckingham in mixed media for the Silver Key award; 11th-grader Jen Disher in drawing for the Silver Key; 11th-grader James Dolence in photo for the Silver Key; 12th-grader Taylor Easton in mixed media for the Gold Key and in ceramics for the Silver Key; 12th-grader Leslie Halverson in drawing for the Gold Key; ninth-grader Becki Iding in drawing for the Silver Key; 10th-grader Jessica Jones in photo for the Gold Key and in drawing for the Silver Key; ninth-grader Sonora Larson in drawing for the Silver Key; 12th-grader Joe Ludwig in drawing for the Silver Key; 12th-grader Molly Meganck in digital for the Silver Key; 12th-grader Jessica Riehl in drawing for the Gold Key; ninth-grader Max Smith in drawing for the Gold Key; 12th-grader Tim Straszewski in digital for the Gold Key; and 10th-grader Zach Thomae in photo for the Gold Key.

Eight East seniors were awarded Gold Key awards for their portfolios including Molly Meganck, Carson Hoerz, Mary Buckingham, Taylor Easton, Ellen Blaser, Laura Moorhead, Luke Summers and Jessica Riehl, who was also awarded to Gold Key portfolio awards.

Regional award winners from West High School are 11th-grader Lauren Dumke in graphic design for the Gold Key; 12th-grader Ashley Looker in digital photography for the Gold Key; 11th-grader Laura Bavlnka in apparel design for the Gold Key; 12th-grader Katelyn Brozovich in digital photography for Gold Key; 12th-grader Nick Cusatis in digital photo for the Gold Key; 10th-grader Ashley Grice in drawing for the Gold Key; 10th-grader Herschel Kissinger in drawing for the Gold Key; 10th-grader Gao Seng Thao for the Gold Key; and 11th-grader Pazong Thao in drawing for the Silver Key.

Three West seniors - Ashley Looker, Katelyn Brozovich and Sam Culver - were also awarded Gold Key awards for their portfolios.

In addition to the high school winners, Longfellow Middle School eighth-grader Jordan Hoefler won a Silver Key in the mixed media category.

Whitman seventh-graders Rachel Poli and Harrison Fangmann both won in the drawing category. Poli won a Gold Key and Fangmann was awarded a Silver Key.

The winning artwork will be on display at the Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, through Sunday, March 8.