Several Lawrence High School student artists earned awards at a regional competition, including seven whose works were selected in the top 1% of all submissions.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has announced the 2025 Mid-West Regional winners visual arts categories. Work by 11 LHS students — including two sophomores, four juniors and five seniors — was recognized, according to LHS art teacher Todd Poteet.
Earning a Gold Key means a student’s work is in the top 1% of artwork submitted, and a Silver Key places them in the top 5%.
Poteet said the American Visions Award for originality and voice goes to just five students from each region chosen out of more 4,000 submissions, he said. LHS student Ru Yother was nominated and also earned a Gold Key in ceramics.
Two students who in December 2024 earned national awards acknowledging them as promising creatives of their generation have collected more awards. Senior Adele Erickson earned two Gold Keys and one Silver Key as well as other awards for her portfolio and painting work. Junior Lola Brown earned an honorable mention in photography.
More winners from LHS include Henry Farthing, Sophia Graves, Wren Jay, Ari Kamat, Lily Havener, Connor Rayome, Simn Robinson and Celeste Stinson. View all the awards in the table below.
Here’s the full list of LHS awardees, via Poteet:
| Artist | Work title | Medium | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lola Brown | I Miss It, I Miss You | Photography | Honorable Mention |
| Adele Erickson* | Body of a Woman | Portfolio Category(Art) | Silver Key |
| Adele Erickson | Forget-Me-Nots | Painting | Gold Key |
| Adele Erickson | Flowering | Painting | Gold Key |
| Adele Erickson | Aftercare | Painting | Honorable Mention |
| Adele Erickson | Gynecology | Painting | Silver Key |
| Adele Erickson | Perfect Wife | Painting | Silver Key |
| Adele Erickson | Dobbs Decision | Painting | Silver Key |
| Adele Erickson | Self Improvement | Painting | Silver Key |
| Henry Farthing* | Penny (Brooklyn, NY) | Photography | Gold Key |
| Henry Farthing | Contracted | Photography | Silver Key |
| Henry Farthing | Matchstick Cathedral | Photography | Honorable Mention |
| Sophia Graves* | Grounded | Painting | Gold Key |
| Sophia Graves | Intrusive thoughts | Digital Art | Gold Key |
| Sophia Graves | Paranormal Fun | Digital Art | Honorable Mention |
| Sophia Graves | Slice of Weirdom | Mixed Media | Gold Key |
| Sophia Graves | Ember Necklace | Jewelry | Honorable Mention |
| Sophia Graves | Sleeping Memories | Jewelry | Gold Key |
| Wren Jay | Bud | Painting | Honorable Mention |
| Wren Jay | Treasures Beneath | Painting | Honorable Mention |
| Ari Kamat | Distractions | Painting | Honorable Mention |
| Ari Kamat | Quiet expression | Painting | Gold Key |
| Lily Havener | Retro Wildflowers Set | Fashion | Silver Key |
| Connor Rayome* | Everyday Musings | Portfolio Category(Art) | Silver Key |
| Simn Robinson | All American | Photography | Gold Key |
| Simn Robinson | Masked Child | Photography | Gold Key |
| Simn Robinson | One’s True Self | Photography | Gold Key |
| Simn Robinson | Supper | Photography | Honorable Mention |
| Simn Robinson | The American Reality | Photography | Honorable Mention |
| Celeste Stinson* | Consequences of Ballet | Portfolio Category(Art) | Gold Key |
| Celeste Stinson | Corsage | Painting | Silver Key |
| Celeste Stinson | Dead Excess | Painting | Honorable Mention |
| Celeste Stinson | Display of Disrespect | Painting | Gold Key |
| Celeste Stinson | Statuesque | Painting | Honorable Mention |
| Celeste Stinson | The Reflections’ Attack | Painting | Gold Key |
| Celeste Stinson | Self Perception: Deafening | Painting | Silver Key |
| Ru Yother | Living Dreams | Ceramics | Gold Key |
| Ru Yother | Multi-vocal Auspex | Ceramics | Gold Key; American Vision Nominee |
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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