The Mequon-Thiensville School District is proud to announce that fourteen student artists received accolades for their visual artwork through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Under the direction of teachers Melinda Plamann (Steffen and Lake Shore Middle Schools), Kat Hustedde, Katie Nowak, and Gina Ruchalski (Homestead High School), students from Steffen Middle School and Homestead High School received ten Gold Keys, one Silver Keys, and seventeen Honorable Mentions. Especially notable this year is Elsa Heinrich’s Gold Key for her Senior Portfolio, an accomplishment achieved by only five other students in the region and a first for Homestead High School.
The Mequon-Thiensville School District is proud to announce that fourteen student artists received accolades for their visual artwork through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Under the direction of teachers Melinda Plamann (Steffen and Lake Shore Middle Schools), Kat Hustedde, Katie Nowak, and Gina Ruchalski (Homestead High School), students from Steffen Middle School and Homestead High School received ten Gold Keys, one Silver Keys, and seventeen Honorable Mentions. Especially notable this year is Elsa Heinrich’s Gold Key for her Senior Portfolio, an accomplishment achieved by only five other students in the region and a first for Homestead High School.
"I've been so privileged to work with Elsa and watch her grow as an artist and person over the last four years,” said Homestead art teacher, Kat Hustedde. “She always had the gift of illustration, married with storytelling in her fully developed style. I'm happy Scholastic recognizes and celebrates her talent and that of the other recipients! We have an amazing group of creators representing our school this year."
Gold Key Winners include:
- Elsa Heinrich, Grade 12
- Mia Lind, Grade 9
- Delaney Melgaard, Grade 11
- Meredith Niedfeldt, Grade 12
- Eliana Pope, Grade 12
Silver Key Winner:
- Liliana Espinosa, Grade 10
Honorable Mentions include:
- Madelyn DeLany, Grade 8
- Callum Donahue, Grade 12
- Liliana Espinosa, Grade 10
- Elsa Heinrich, Grade 12
- Samantha Lee, Grade 11
- Mia Lind, Grade 9
- Riley Meskin, Grade 12
- Meredith Niedfeldt, Grade 12
- Sabrina Ruiz, Grade 9
- Alicea Thurow, Grade 12
- Phynn Ulmen, Grade 8
- Belle Wendling, Grade 8
The Scholastic Art Awards recognize students annually for creating work that breaks from convention, blurs genre boundaries, and challenges traditional ways of expressing concepts and emotions. Submissions must showcase an original perspective or personal voice through unique, powerful, and innovative techniques, reflecting an authentic point of view and distinct style. This year’s regional competition saw more than 3,000 entries from students in grades 7-12, competing for Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention, American Voices Nominee, and American Visions Nominee awards across categories such as Architecture, Ceramics & Glass, Comic Art, Design, Digital Art, Drawing, Fashion, Film & Animation, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.
“Most of my art comes from people-watching,” said Heinrich, “I get inspired when I really take the time to observe the world and the other lives playing out around me. Oftentimes, the seemingly mundane, easily overlooked moments of humanity can make for the most unexpectedly intriguing stories.”
Award-winning student artworks from across the region will be featured in the Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum from February 1 - March 16. Awards Day will be held in multiple sessions in the Museum’s Lubar Auditorium on February 8. All Gold Key recipients’ work goes on to the National competition.
To view our students' award-winning art, please click here.