70 students chosen for Nebraska Young Artist Awards

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts has announced the winners of the 19th annual Nebraska Young Artist Awards.

The awards annually recognize 11th-grade students from Nebraska for their talents in visual art, dance, music, theater, and film and new media. The students exemplify the pinnacles of creativity in one of the fine and performing arts.

Seventy students from more than 35 high schools across the state have been selected to participate in the special day of activities April 6 at UNL.

Students applied for the recognition and submitted an example of their work. Applications were received from 167 students across the state. Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts faculty chose the 70 winners.

Honored students will take tours of the arts facilities, attend classes, meet faculty and college students and have lunch. 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 will also be asked to nominate the teacher who provided them with the greatest amount of mentoring and support in the development of their special talents.

The day will conclude with an awards ceremony. Students will receive a certificate and an original piece of artwork commissioned for the event and created by Department of Art and Art History printmaking student Hannah Demma.

The following is a list by hometown of Nebraska Young Artist Awards winners. Information includes high school and specialty area(s).

• Aurora: Ross Mosier, Aurora, music.
• Bellevue: Emily Hoskin, home school, visual art; Ryan McCann, Omaha Bryan, music; Alex Molnar, Bellevue East, visual art.
• Bennington: Morgan Bennett, Omaha Central, music.
• Cozad: Melanie Castillo, Cozad, dance; Valeria Estrada, Cozad, dance.
• Elkhorn: Nathan Andrews, Millard South, music; Brendan Doyle, Creighton Prep, visual art, and film and new media; Aubrey Grasz, Concordia, music and dance.
• Exeter: Stephen Ruhl, home school, music.
• Falls City: Barbara Wilhide, Falls City, visual art.
• Fremont: Luis Camey, Fremont, visual art.
• Grant: Claire Maaliao, Perkins County, visual art.
• Hershey: Landon Mader, Hershey, music.
• Howells: Hailey Coufal, Howells-Dodge Consolidated, dance.
• Kearney: Madeline Myers, Kearney, dance.
• Kimball: Audrey Day, Kimball, music.
• Lincoln: Olivia Andrews, Lincoln High, theater arts; Kelsie Bliss, Lincoln East, dance; Melissa Bornstein, Lincoln High, music; Averi Bott, home school, music; Ellie Churchill, Lincoln High, theater arts; Felix Cui, Lincoln East, music; Ben Friend, Lincoln Southeast, visual art; Anastasia Golyakova, Lincoln East, visual art; Matthew Hakel, Lincoln Southwest, dance; Hayli Kent, Lincoln East, music; Rosie Kirianov, Lincoln Southwest, dance; Allison McElroy, Pius X, Lincoln, dance; Jonathan Meckel, home school, music; Riana Lurice Prudente-Dazon, Lincoln High, film and new media; Emily Vanek, Lincoln High, theater arts; Devony Votava, Lincoln Southwest, dance; Gabby Wagner, Pius X, Lincoln, dance; Harper Lundine Wilmoth, Lincoln High, theater arts; Michaela Wubbels, Lincoln High, dance; Michael Zavodny, Malcolm, theater arts; Alicia Zeng, Lincoln East, music.
• Milligan: Ella Wilkins, Exeter-Milligan, music.
• Murray: Samuel Babe, Plattsmouth, music.
• Omaha: Katherine Anderson, Millard South, music; Emmalee Bielenberg, Millard South, music; Vivian Caniglia, Duchesne Academy, visual art; Thomas Ernatt, Creighton Prep, visual art; Maurice Garrett, Omaha Central, music; Mitch Henderson, Creighton Prep, visual art, and film and new media; Ian Hill, Omaha Central, music; Timothy Kaftan, Creighton Prep, visual art; Spencer Kearney, Creighton Prep, visual art; Hunter Parry, Creighton Prep, visual art; Trevor Petersen, Omaha Central, music; Susana Pettis, Omaha Marian, dance; Ciera Pieters, Omaha North Magnet, film and new media; Venessa Rodriguez, Omaha South Magnet, visual art; Aaron Sobetski, Creighton Prep, visual art; Alyssa Soppe, Millard South, music; Gabe Windham, Omaha Central, music.
• Papillion: Ambi Anuh-Ndumu, Papillion-La Vista, music; Irving Delgado-Arellanes, Creighton Prep, visual art; Ryan Kimball, Papillion-La Vista, music; Matthew Smith, Creighton Prep, visual art; Nic Thurman, Creighton Prep, visual art; Katie Williams, Omaha Marian, music.
• Roca: Macy Miller, Norris, music.
• South Bend: Anna Niemoth, Louisville, music.
• Valparaiso: Livi Becker, Bishop Neumann, visual art.
• Verdigre: Madisen Randa, Verdigre, visual art.
• Wahoo: Claire Johnston, Wahoo, dance.
• Waverly: Emma Humphrey, Waverly, music.