Oswego Student Artists Awarded Nearly $2.6M In Scholarships

OSWEGO, IL — Artists from Oswego High School were offered a combined nearly $2.6 million in tuition scholarships for their work exhibited by the Illinois High School Art Exhibition, officials announced Friday.

Students from the Oswego Community Unit School District 308 high school had their work on display in the Senior Scholarship Exhibition and the Northern Regional Exhibition.

The Senior Scholarship Exhibition is one of Illinois's largest and most influential student scholarship exhibitions, with more than 130 high schools from across the state participating. This year, more than 300 portfolios were entered and reviewed to result in more than 350 artworks being exhibited and their artists' being recognized with scholarships.

From Oswego, the following students were featured:

• "I'm Not Perfect" by Jessica Jay Dove
• "Hope For A Brighter Future" by Shyann Beasley
• "Creation Jackson" by Jackson Brito
• "Making of N3K-0" by Brynn Hartness
• "Quetzal" by Brianna Huerta
• "Mama" by Liana Melton
• "Pretty Pink Princess" by Destiny Mendoza
• "Color of You" by Mark Lobner
• "String Theocracy" by Carolina Noe Alcantara
• "Gluttony" by Jenna Allen

Similarly, works from more than 150 Illinois high schools are juried in the Northern Regional Exhibition, with the top entries in each category being awarded prizes and recognition.

"This truly unique showcase celebrates artistic expression, achievement, and provides talented young artists with the opportunity to represent their school at a state level," Executive Director of Communications and Public Relations Theresa Komitas wrote in a news release.

These Oswego High School students will be represented:

• Brynn Hartness, design
• Shyann Beasley, painting
• Jay Dove, drawing
• Ayden Berrones, sculpture
• Alanna Kozbiel, mixed media
• Emma Trottier, photography

Both exhibitions' main event will be held April 21 at Bridgeport Art Center, 1200 W. 35th St. The show will bring together the work of the best student artists from about 100 high schools across Illinois.