The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts has announced the winners of the 22nd annual Nebraska Young Artist Awards.
The awards recognize 11th-grade students from Nebraska for their talents in visual art, dance, music, theatre and emerging media.
Seventy-three students from more than 40 high schools across the state have been selected to participate in a special day of activities April 3 at the university.
Students applied for the recognition and submitted an example of their work. Applications were received from 178 students. Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts faculty chose the winners.
Honored students will take tours of the arts facilities, attend classes, meet faculty and college students and have lunch. Their parents will be invited and will also take tours, as well as receive information on careers in the arts and college curriculum.
Students selected to participate in the Nebraska Young Artist Awards were asked to nominate the teacher who provided them with the greatest amount of mentoring and support in the development of their special talents.
The day will conclude with an awards ceremony. Students will receive a certificate and an original piece of artwork commissioned for the event and created by School of Art, Art History and Design printmaking student Alyssa Kobza.
Following is a list of award winners by hometown, with their high school and specialty area(s).
Abie: Travis Roh, Aquinas Catholic, music and theatre arts.
Aurora: Ashlynn Grudzinski, Aurora, visual art; Meghan Johansen, Aurora, visual art.
Beatrice: Natalie Klaus, Beatrice, music.
Bennington: Alexandria Vandenberg, Omaha Westside, dance.
Brainard: Maria Pytlik, Aquinas Catholic, music.
Cozad: Haley Cargill, Cozad, dance; Abigail Nelsen, Cozad, dance; Abby Worrell, Cozad, dance.
David City: Elizabeth Aschoff, Aquinas Catholic, music.
Denton: Kendrick Roach, Lincoln Southeast, music.
Elm Creek: Hallie Gutzwiller, Elm Creek, theatre arts.
Exeter: Caitlin Murphy, Exeter-Milligan, music.
Fremont: Jessica Alcorn, Fremont, music.
Gering: Adam Flowers, Gering, music.
Gothenburg: Ayden Ourada, Cozad, dance.
Grand Island: Adriana Catalan, Grand Island, visual art; Christopher Ramirez, Grand Island, visual art.
Gretna: Carmel Hemphill, Gretna, music; Payton Plugge, Gretna, music.
Indianola: Johanna Sughroue, Southwest Public, visual art; Kailey Wilcox, Southwest Public, visual art.
Johnson Lake: Ahnika Svajgr, Cozad, dance.
Lincoln: Leah Andersen, Lincoln East, dance; Oliver Brauning, home school, music; Marissa Cooley, Lincoln Christian, music; Ashleigh Rose Copes, Lincoln East, dance; Salvador Diaz-DeBose, Lincoln, dance; Joshua Dowd, home school, music; Ritsa Giannakas, Lincoln East, music; Halie Gibson, Lincoln North Star, dance; Lisle Gustafson, Lincoln Southeast, theatre arts; Harrison Hebb, Lincoln Southeast, visual art; Lydia Kingery, Lincoln Southeast, theatre arts; Kinsey Knorr, Lincoln Southeast, music; Khiara Lawrence, Lincoln North Star, visual art; Jordan Moore, Lincoln, visual art; Kamryn Plock, Lincoln East, music; Sadie Prenda, Lincoln Southeast, music and theatre arts; Iris/Elliot Starlin-Hintz, Lincoln Arts and Humanities Focus, visual art; E-Keithmel Wreh, Lincoln East, dance.
McCook: Corinne Baker, Southwest, visual art; Candace Coleman, McCook, visual art.
Mullen: Jadyn Chasek, Mullen, visual art; Gracie Hoyt, Mullen, visual art; Teven Marshall, Mullen, visual art.
Nebraska City: Luke Partsch, Lourdes Central Catholic, music.
Norfolk: Riley Bender, Norfolk, music; Michelle Fritton, Norfolk, dance; Cole Hobza, Norfolk, music; Isaac Weander, Lutheran High Northeast, dance.
North Platte: Jack Carlson, North Platte, music; Parker Tonkinson, North Platte, music.
Omaha: Dezarae Brown, Omaha North, dance; Sophie Clark, Omaha Marian, music; Brooke Douglas, Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran, dance; Solee Heitman, Omaha Central, music; Sarah Hytrek, Bennington, dance; Molly Koca, Millard West, dance; Emery Leitch, Omaha Central, music; Laura Lienemann, home school, music; Luke Miles, Brownell Talbot, music; Henry Tomsu, Elkhorn South, music; Grace Young, home school, music; Kenton Young, Millard West, music.
Papillion: Vincent Lin, Papillion-La Vista, music.
Rushville: Evan Jones-Hazledine, Gordon-Rushville, theatre arts.
Schuyler: Jaiden Sock, Schuyler Central, dance.
Seward: Hallie Jensen, Milford, visual art.
Stanton: Caleb Jenkinson, Stanton, music.
Staplehurst: Vilynn Decker, Seward, music.
Valley: Easton Dippel, Elkhorn, theatre arts.
Waverly: Lauren Hartman, Waverly, music.
