Spotlight on young artists

May 9—The Sampson Arts Council continued its support of the community's local art talent, hosting one of its biggest art shows so far. Pieces adorned nearly every inch of the Victor R. Small House as the spotlight for this show shined over students.

Since it's all about students, the current show is appropriately titled the "Student Art Show". The show itself runs from May 1st to 12th in the Victor R. Small House Gallery and is an annual event they put on to showcase the many different artistic gifts these student posses.

This year there were 140 students participating, and 140 pieces of art, from both Sampson County and Clinton City Schools' students. Ribbons were also awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and honorable mentions which included students for grades K-12. On top of that, all first-place winners received a check for $25.

The participating school's and their respective art teachers were Sunset Ave, Mallory Strickland; Butter Ave, Kristie Slack; LC Kerr, Emily Colt; Salemburg and Roseboro Elementary, Rhonda Powell; Sampson Middle, Dustin Hinson; Midway Middle, Lesley Bowden; Roseboro Middle, Jemeikka Jasso-Steele; Union High, Ashley Knowles; Hobbton High, Jennifer Jackson; Lakewood High, Lee Howard; Clinton High, Michael Ray.

This past Thursday the artist reception was held and during it the winners for this years show were announced which was judged by potter and retired art teacher, Marsha Rogers. The prizes were awarded per four groups split between grades K-2nd, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th and 9th-12th.

The Sampson Arts Council's 2023 "Student Art Show" Winners were:

Grades K-2 student grade/school/art teacher

1st Place — Abigail Lopez 1st grade/Butler Ave/ Kristie Slack

2nd Place — Chylen Taylor Kindergarten/Roseboro Elem./Rhonda Powell

3rd Place — Aurbr'ie Camacho Kindergarten/LC Kerr/ Emily Colt

Honorable Mentions — Yojana Perez 2nd grade/Bulter Ave/ Kristie Slack; Mia Hayes 2nd grade/ Salemburg Elem/Rhonda Powell

Grades 3-5 student grade/school/art teacher

1st Place — Annabella Carnley 4th grade/Salemburg Elem/ Rhonda Powell

2nd Place — Kaiden Logan 3rd grade/ Roseboro Elem/ Rhonda Powell

3rd Place — Aubrey McCaskill 5th grade/ Sunset Ave/ Mallory Strickland

Honorable Mentions — Tanner Serafini 5th grade/Sunset Ave/ Mallory Strickland; Bella Brewington 3rd grade/ Sunset Ave/ Mallory Strickland

Grades 6-8 student grade/school/art teacher

1st Place — Lauralee Harris 8th grade/Midway Middle/ Lesley Bowden

2nd Place — Nyemah Jean Baptiste 6th grade/ Sampson Middle/ Dustin Hinson

3rd Place — LeAnne Bennett 6th grade/ Sampson Middle/ Dustin Hinson

Honorable Mentions — Genesis Vanegas 8th grade/ Roseboro-Salemburg Middle/Jemeikka Jasso-Steele; Nolon Register 6th grade/ Roseboro-Salemburg Middle/Jemeikka Jasso-Steele

Grades 9-12 student grade/school/art teacher

1st Place — Loralie Bellanger 11th grade/ Clinton High/ Michael Ray

2nd Place — Genesis Cruz 10th grade/ Union High/ Ashley Knowles

3rd Place — Sadie Bolden 9th grade/ Lakewood High/ Lee Howard

Honorable Mentions — Walker Dixon 12th grade/ Clinton High/ Michael Ray; Jimena Rodriguez 12th grade / Union High/ Ashley Knowles

Reach Michael B. Hardison at 910-249-4231. Follow us on Twitter at @SamsponInd, like us on Facebook, and check out our Instagram at @thesampsonindependent.