High School Artists Bring Home Awards
From Prestigious Competition
February 18, 2003

CULVER CITY, Calif. --  Three Culver City High School students have received awards at the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition, the largest, longest-running, and most prestigious recognition programs for creative young people in the United States, and will have their work displayed during the next week at Otis College of Art and Design in Westchester.

Under the direction of art teacher Kristine Hatanaka, students received top honors in their region, which stretches from San Diego to Santa Barbara and included entries from thousands of students.

The following Culver City students were honored during the competition, which is now in its 80th year:

•   Resa, color pencil drawing - Silver Key
•   Marisa, painting, “The Conversation” - Silver Key
•   Resa, Portfolio - Silver Key
•   Melissa, Portfolio - Silver Key
•   Marisa, Portfolio - Gold Key

Marisa’s Gold Key portfolio will advance to New York for further judging in the national competition. The national award recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., in June. The Scholastic Art Awards National Exhibition, held at The Corcoran Gallery of Art, features more than 200 works of art. All of the student winners and their teachers are invited to an awards ceremony at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The work of all three Culver City artists will be on display from February 8 to February 15 at the Bolsky Gallery, and the public is invited to attend the exhibition.

The exhibition will close with a reception from 1 to 2 p.m. on February 15 at Otis’ Ahmanson Hall, Room 102, followed by an awards ceremony from 2 to 3 p.m.

“We are incredibly proud of Kristine and her students,” said Superintendent Laura McGaughey. “I am continually amazed at the bright, young talent we produce right here in Culver City. We congratulate all the winners and wish Marisa the best of luck in the national competition.”