2008 Nebraska Young Artist awards announced

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts has announced the winners of the 11th annual Nebraska Young Artist awards.

Seventy-one students from nearly 40 high schools across the state were selected to participate in the special day of activities April 2 at UNL. The awards annually recognize 11th grade students who are gifted and talented in the areas of visual art, dance, music and theater. These students exemplify the pinnacles of creativity in one of the fine and performing arts.

Students applied for the recognition and submitted an example of their work. Applications were received from nearly 150 students across the state. Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts faculty chose the students who will come to UNL April 2.

Honored students will take tours of the arts facilities, attend classes, and meet faculty and college students. Their parents will also be invited, and they 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 also nominate a teacher who provided them with the greatest amount of mentoring and support in the development of their special talents.

The day will conclude with a 3 p.m. awards ceremony in the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery auditorium. Students will receive a certificate and an original piece of artwork commissioned for this event and created by a Department of Art and Art History student.

2008 Nebraska Young Artist Award winners and their field by school (the name of the student's hometown is included in parentheses if it differs from the school or where otherwise appropriate):

Ainsworth: Michael Sholes, theater.

Bellevue East: David Schaefer, music.

Clearwater: Daniel Filsinger, visual art.

Crete: Samantha Renker, music.

Fremont: Holly Bussa, music; Ivy Hoppes, visual art; Megan Kassmeier, music; Cole Voss, theater.

Hastings: Abby Gentert, visual art.

Hershey: Cadie Jochum (Sutherland), music.

Holdrege: Megan Kauk, visual art.

Humphrey: Lacey Brandt (Platte Center), theater.

Kimball County: Brock Tjosvold (Kimball), music.

Lincoln East: Johannah Bashford, music; Kelsey Bassett, dance; Grainger Browne, visual art; Camille-Germain Duhamel, music; Ashley Lafferty, dance.

Lincoln High: Breanna Achen, theater; Skylar Mosby, theater; Shauna Nielsen, theater; Benito Sanchez, theater.

Lincoln Pius X: Mary Claire Rice, visual art; Sarah Vaggalis, dance.

Lincoln Southeast: Amelia Barrett, theater; Sydney Chase, dance; Sam Eschliman, music; Rose Hunter, music; Natalie Manner, music.

Lincoln Southwest: Nick Jester, music; Philicia Mizell, music; Rachael Pflug (Walton), visual art.

McCook: Corinne O'Dea, visual art.

Milford: Marisa Esch (Denton), visual art.

Millard North: Samuel Hulbert, music; Lydia Selzle, music.

Millard South: Sara Fredrickson, visual art; Lyndsi Petznick, visual art; Danielle Prchal, visual art.

Millard West: Brittany Bauer, music.

Nebraska City Lourdes: Anna-Lena Linke, visual art; Amanda Sasse, visual art; Rachel Wulf, visual art.

Norfolk: Betty Cushing (Winside), music.

Norris: Ann Collins (Lincoln), music.

North Platte: Wayd Odle, music; Andrew Van Velson, music.

Omaha Burke: Anna Minnick, dance.

Omaha Central: Michelle Estrada, visual art; Chelsie Thurman, visual art.

Omaha North: Daniel Hawkes, theater; Brad Meyer, theater; Andrew Saure, theater; Jasmyn Thompson, dance.

Papillion-LaVista: Jessie Plumb (Papillion), music.

Pawnee City: Cody Hinrichsen, visual art.

Perkins County: Ryan Pankonin (Grant), visual art; Joanna Wurst (Grant), visual art.

Raymond Central: Amzi McFarling (Ceresco), visual art.

Red Cloud: Kelsey Hobbs, dance.

Saint Paul: Brooke Brouillette, visual art; Rachelle Smydra, visual art.

Seward: Joshua Moravec, music.

Shickley: Jennifer Noel, visual art.

Southern Valley: Jessie Sadd (Beaver City), visual art; Abby Schoen (Oxford), visual art.

Verdigre: Jennifer Cook, visual art.

Waverly: Laura Clark (Lincoln), music; Florian Meissner (Lincoln), music; Megan Stice, visual art.

Wood River: Abbie Davis, dance.