Artistic talent abounds in Wilton Schools, and it was most recently recognized when 12 Wilton students received awards from the Connecticut Art Education Association (CÆA) at the 27th annual Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art Awards. The program is the largest juried student art exhibition in the state and is an affiliate of the National Scholastic Art Awards.

This national program was started to honor the creative efforts of grade 7- 12 students in public, private and parochial schools. It is now the largest and most senior program of its type in the country. Artwork is juried by professional artists and university art faculty; recipients received their awards on Jan. 28, at a ceremony held at the University of Hartford. Their work is exhibited in the Silpe Gallery at the Hartford Art School.

Students from 150 participating Connecticut schools in grades 7-12 submit their artwork for consideration. From approximately 2,500 total art entries, 683 works were accepted for this year’s exhibit. From that accepted number, there were 259 Gold key awards (including 67 Gold portfolios), 197 Silver keys and 225 Honorable Mention awards granted. Gold Key award winners from each national region will have their art works reviewed by a blue ribbon panel of judges at the national level in March. The National Jury will select “Gold Medal” National winners and call in their artwork to be exhibited in New York City during June.

The Wilton students who received the CT Scholastic Art Awards are:

Middlebrook School

Daniella Coltman, Digital Art, Honorable Mention
Emily Johnson, Photography, Gold Key
Meredith Mobyed, Photography, Gold Key
Fiona O’Halloran, Comic Art, Gold Key
Mihika Shukla, Photography, Silver Key

Wilton High School

Becca Blair, Mixed Media, Silver Key
Kaylynn Gunzy, Sculpture, Gold Key
Kaylynn Gunzy, Sculpture, Honorable Mention
Megan McNamara, Ceramics and Glass, Silver Key
Madeline O’Brien, Sculpture, Silver Key
Katherine Psaltos, Fashion, Honorable Mention
Katherine Psaltos, Art Portfolio, Gold Key
Maud Seymour, Ceramics/Glass, Silver Key
Jeremy Wong, Ceramics/Glass, Gold Key
Jeremy Wong, Ceramics/Glass, Silver Key
Jeremy Wong, Ceramics/Glass, Gold Key “CÆA Best in Ceramics”