Seniors honored for their fine arts endeavors

The Brainerd High School Monday honored its seniors who made great strides in fine arts programs.

There were 149 seniors recognized and among them were 60 Fine Arts Scholars who were recognized during the high school's annual Fine Arts Celebration Reception held in the cafeteria. Each of the seniors, one by one, had their moment in the spotlight where their awards were mentioned as they paused for a few seconds in front of a colorful background with the word "POP!" written in large letters.

Students have the opportunity to take any of the fine arts programs at the high school including choir, band, orchestra, Brainonian, Fifth Street Journal, speech, debate, mock trial, theater, visual arts, TV Productions and creative writing. And within each program there are a number of offerings students can participate in, such as painting, pottery, artist books, decoy design, spring musical, symphonic band, concert band, marching band, a cappella choir, honor choir, solo and ensemble concert, wind symphony and more.

The Fine Arts Scholars are seniors who maintained a 3.5 grade point average. The Brainerd Dispatch initiated the Fine Arts Scholar Medallion in 1999 to honor students, in cooperation with the school.

BHS Activities Director Charlie Campbell said the fine arts banquet is the first of many banquets the seniors will attend this spring. Campbell said the reception is a time to celebrate the fine arts programs in the school, the staff and "the young people today who are exploring these passions and sharing them with us."

Campbell said before coming to BHS five years ago he was a principal at a high school and wanted the students to be creative and innovative. He said students can do this in the fine arts programs. Campbell said he's thankful to the Brainerd School Board members who support the arts and continue to have the school district offer fine arts activities in the schools.

After each student was recognized and the BHS Windfall Choir performed "More I Cannot Wish You," each of the fine arts advisers announced their awards to students.

• Brainonian: Emily Nelson.

• Fifth Street Journal: Catarina Brambilla, Maura Halverson and Ashley Bontjes.

• Theater: Chloe Rose Severson.

• Concert band: Austin Domino.

• Wind Symphony: The John Phillips Sousa award went to Matthew Majerle.

• Jazz Ensemble 1: The Louis Armstrong award went to Rachel Cleveland.

• Symphonic Band: Patrick S. Gillmore Award went to Julian Vrudny.

• Orchestra leadership award: Sophie Stubbs.

• Choir: Manager McKenzie Peterson.

• Choir: Zachary Rude and Sophie Stubbs.

The judges for the visual arts were Joey Halverson, Jerry Raedke, Lance Hanfler, Beth Medin, Clint Lasher, Laura Raedke, Jane Ryan and Mara Crystal and are as follows:

• Best in Show: Gemma Hollen.

• Most Original: Kelsey Stroot.

• Overall 2D: Anna Guida.

• Overall 3D: Reilly Miller.

• Overall Favorite: A tie with Emily Nelson and Samantha Fritz.

• Overall Notan: Elizabeth Archer.

• Overall Tessellation: Anna Nichols.

• Overall Decoy: Brady Houle.

• Overall Artist Books: Nichols.

• Teachers' Favorite Art award: Jessie Ernster.

Honorable mentions:

Abigail Colson and Stephanie Johnson, both flowered colored pencil; Shelby Augustine, pen drawing cut-out; Virgil Tomberlin, markers; Jessie Ernster, drawing; Emily Nelson, drawing; Mikaya Maki, painting; Hannah Johnson, pottery; Kailee Coleman, Notan; Caitlyn Swartwood, sumi-e painting; Emily Lindquist, watercolor; and Ben Plinske and David Nibble, a welded dinosaur.

The last award went to someone in the community who supports the arts at the high school. The award went to Marissa Mills of the Mills Companies.

"She is very passionate for the arts," Lea Anderson, one of the visual arts instructors said. "She is very humble. ... Her faith and trust in the art club has meant a lot to us."

Anderson also awarded senior Kayla Raasch with the Visual Arts plaque for her dedication to the arts.

"She is a student who wants to go the extra mile," Anderson said. "She is extremely talented and incredibly helpful ... and she does it all with charm and her generous spirit. ... I don't know what I am going to do without you."

The senior scholarships for fine arts will be given at the senior recognition with other scholarships on May 16 at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5851. Follow me at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl on Twitter.