Three William Byrd High School students, who are also students at the Burton Center for Arts
and Technology, won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Southwest Virginia Scholastic Art Awards
competition.
Kendall Lecas, a junior at WBHS and BCAT, won Honorable mentions for her pieces entitled
“Portrait” (in the Mixed Media category) and “Constrained” (in the Painting category).
Awards competition.
Ellie Reid won Honorable Mentions for her pieces “Silent Scream” (Painting category) and
“Music Makes Me Powerful” (Mixed Media category). Their teacher at BCAT is Natalie Strum.
Awards competition. (courtesy of Fine Arts Center for New River Valley)
Sophomore Meisha Robinson won Honorable Mention in the Drawing and Illustration category
for “House Plant.” Her teacher at BCAT is Pam Rose.
competition for “House Plant.”
Each year students from across the country participate in the Scholastic Art Awards
competition—the longest running and most prestigious arts award program for students in grades
7-12, ages 13 and up.
The Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley, located in Pulaski, sponsors the awards each
year for students in 23 counties, and the towns and cities within, across Southwest Virginia.
Students submit artwork which is judged by panels of artists across 16 categories of art.
Artists will be recognized at a reception at the fine arts center on Feb. 24.
This is the 101st year for the Scholastic Awards program, sponsored by the Alliance for Young
Artists and Writers. Since its founding in 1923, the awards have fostered the creativity and talent
of millions of students including Andy Warhol, Stephen King, and Ken Burns.
~Vinton Messenger staff report
