ArtFest Fort Myers hosts Art Under 20 awards

ArtFest Fort Myers presented $6,000 in awards to Lee County high school students at the Art Under 20 award reception on Feb. 13. These student artists won the top awards in "Art Under 20," the high school fine art competition, which was held on Feb. 2-3.

Approximately 190 local high school students, from 15 Lee County high schools, entered 359 pieces of artwork in Art Under 20. All artwork entered in this competition was exhibited at the fine art festival and previewed by thousands of festival patrons. Art Under 20 judges, Stephen Gray-Blancett, Barbara Murdock and John O'Brien selected the winners.

The cash award levels were $900 for best of show, $400 for first place, $200 for second, $100 for third and $50 for honorable mention. Festival attendees voted for the People's Choice, a $300 cash award.

ArtFest Fort Myers also offered three Ringling College of Art and Design Scholarships to attend a Summer Teen Studio in 2008. These scholarships are designed to cover the tuition costs of the Ringling Summer Teen Studio Program, giving the recipients an opportunity to receive advanced art training.

The Art Under 20 sponsors, Oswald Trippe & Company, Inc., in conjunction with Zurick, agree that the purpose of this event is to encourage the youth in our community to participate in the fine arts.

Below is a list of the winning students and the schools they attend. PHOTOGRAPHY 1st: Sarah Ormiston, Mariner 2nd: Jennifer Lustig, Mariner 3rd: Desiree Fernandez, Fort Myers PAINTING 1st: Hana Pak, North Fort Myers 2nd: Jocelyn Marie Michaud, Mariner 3rd: Tyler Conner, Fort Myers DRAWING 1st: Adam Frank, Mariner 2nd: Lauren Garcia, North Fort Myers 3rd: Lauren Garcia, North Fort Myers 3-DIMENSIONAL 1st: Dakota Sica, Mariner 2nd: Rachel Bennett, Gateway Charter 3rd: Nicholas George, Mariner MIXED MEDIA 1st: Emily Miller, Fort Myers 2nd: Melissa Allen, Cypress Lake 3rd: Jocelyn Marie Michaud, Mariner BEST OF SHOW: Dakota Sica, Mariner PEOPLE'S CHOICE: Melissa Allen, Cypress Lake HONORABLE MENTIONS 1. Sarah Dion, Fort Myers 2. Danny Carballo, Cape Coral 3. Elizabeth Hardy, Fort Myers 4. Devin Harclerode, Cape Coral 5. Olivia Wilkett, Cypress Lake 6. Charles Sommer, North Fort Myers 7. Caitlin Rosolen, Cypress Lake 8. Brooke Kretsch, Fort Myers 9. Natalia Bohm, Fort Myers 10. Adam Frank, Mariner 11. Danah Craig, Mariner 12. Sarah Ormiston, Mariner 13. Blake Sobczak, Fort Myers 14. Christine Sheridan, Fort Myers 15. Elizabeth Kent, Fort Myers Ringling School of Art Scholarships 1. Ashley Axtell, Gateway Charter 2. Monica Pinto, Cape Coral 3. Juan Antonio Morales, Cypress Lake