Two Lawrence High School students have earned national YoungArts awards, acknowledging them as promising creatives of their generation.
Junior Lola Brown, a student of Angelia Perkins, won for photography. Senior Adele Erickson, a student of Todd Poteet, won for painting.
They were selected for demonstrating “exceptional technique, a strong sense of artistry and an extraordinary commitment to developing their craft,” according to a YoungArts news release announcing the 2025 cohort.
The award is competitive — about 800 winners nationwide were selected from nearly 11,000 applications across several art disciplines, according to the release.
“We hope this recognition provides these young people with the encouragement to keep pursuing their artistry, and the assurance that YoungArts will be there as a source of support and community for the rest of their lives,” YoungArts President and CEO Clive Chang said in the release.
Each winner earns $250 and becomes eligible for professional development support, grant opportunities, collaboration with national venues and cultural partners, and trips to art intensives through YoungArts.
Some famous artists who were past winners include Daniel Arsham, Jon Batiste, Terence Blanchard, Camille A. Brown, Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Amanda Gorman, Denyce Graves, Josh Groban, Judith Hill, Jennifer Koh, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Andrew Rannells, Desmond Richardson, Jean Shin, Hunter Schafer and Shaina Taub, according to the release.
Erickson’s work was also selected in April to be featured on the side of the Kansas National Education Association building.
Learn more about the YoungArts Award at youngarts.org.
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