FCHS students win medals in art contest

Receiving medals in the Nebraska State Visual Arts Awards are, left to right, Dani Richey, Tessa Way, Heather Feek, Tim von Behren, and Ashley Kirkpatrick.

Heather Feek, Tessa Way, Dani Richey, Ashley Kirkpatrick, and Tim von Behren recently received medals in the 2008 Nebraska State Visual Arts Awards. The students are all in the art classes of Patricia Steinman at Falls City High.

Senior Heather Feek, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Feek, won a Gold medal and a Silver Medal with her entries. One was an acrylic and ink painting titled “Abby in the Tree” and the other was a collage entry titled “Abby and Cat." Senior Tessa Way, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Way, entered a collage titled “Another Hole in the Head” and won a Silver Medal. Senior Dani Richey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Richey, received two Bronze Medals for her art work “Hello Tiger” and “Inner Me,” both done in colored pencil. Senior Ashley Kirkpatrick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs Grady Kirkpatrick, won a Bronze Medal for her entry, a collage of painting with paper titled “Besties." Junior Tim von Behren, son of Mr. and Mrs. John von Behren, won a Gold Medal for a collage titled “Queen of Babel."

The Omaha World-Herald and the Omaha Public Schools presented the 2008 Nebraska State Visual Arts Award. The ceremony took place on February 23 at the Teacher Administration Center in Omaha. This is the third year for NSVAC awards, which replaced the Scholastic Art Awards.

The selection process involved art teachers throughout Nebraska, who submitted the very best work from their students. The regional jurors then selected entries they believed to have the most merit for exhibition. These entries were divided into two groups: Group 1–7th and 8th grade and Group 2–9th through 12th grade. From the two groups, individual pieces were chosen to receive a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medal. The judges were mainly from the Omaha area.