Rockford Art Museum (RAM) opens its 78th Young Artist Show: High School Division with a free public opening and awards ceremony 1–3 p.m., Sunday, March 3. Sponsored by Alpine Kiwanis, Meemic and Women’s Art Board, the exhibition remains on view through March 31 at RAM, located inside the Riverfront Museum Park at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford.

Teachers at schools within 50 miles of Rockford Art Museum submitted nearly 1,000 pieces for consideration by this year’s jurors, who chose 137 works of art representing 90 students at 15 area schools. On view are paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, photography, digital work, mixed media and more. Jurors Matt Irie of McHenry County Community College and Valerie Olafson of Rock Valley College did not know the artist’s name, grade level, or school affiliation when selections were made for inclusion in the exhibition and for awards. 

Awards will be announced at 2 p.m. during the free public opening on Sunday, March 3. Students and teachers of any grade at any school receive free admission to the museum throughout the entire 78th Young Artist Show, which includes the subsequent Youth Division (April 14–May 5).

FULL LIST OF SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS REPRESENTED:  

Auburn High School, Rockford (Teachers: Lisa Frost, Courtney Haugdahl) Susan Manriquez, Sophomore; Cynthia Orenday, Junior; Gabriella Sevilla, Sophomore.

Beloit Memorial High School, Wisconsin (Teachers: Elizabeth Carpenter, Brittany Miller) Abigail Champeny-Johns , Junior; Jessica Chavez, Senior; Rebekkah De Kok, Sophomore; Ibis Enriquez, Senior; Essence Ferguson, Senior; Zadia Hughes-Taylor, Junior; Gabby Klatt, Junior; Makayla Loyd, Senior; Leslie Medina, Senior; Isaic Pulliam, Senior; Angela Vargas, Senior; Nathalia Zamora, Senior.

Belvidere North High School (Teacher: Edith Obenchain) Meghan Cummings, Sophomore; Lori Anne Flaherty, Junior; Elizabeth Hare, Junior; Haley Pryor, Sophomore; Cristian Salinas, Sophomore.

Boylan Catholic High School, Rockford (Teachers: Missy Minardi, Claire Strominger) 

Morgan Anderson, Junior; Lindsay Arreguin, Sophomore; Mayra Arteaga, Senior; Eva Corcoran, Junior; Celine Feria, Senior; Libbie Frost, Senior; Dominic Guerrero, Senior; Alliey Thelen, Junior. 

Christian Life High School, Rockford (Teacher: Sarah Waldron) Rachel Klemm, Senior; Kendra Klock, Senior; Jordyn Kofoid, Junior; Madison Rorossian, Senior. 

East High School, Rockford (Teacher: Rich Hacker) Corey Hirsch, Senior.

Guilford High School, Rockford (Teachers: Lisa Doll, Eric Blackwell, Bethany Austin) Madison Bruno, Junior; Brianna Grimborg, Junior; Lilly Hudson-Opengo, Sophomore; Lamaria Kerrens, Sophomore; Jemma Offer, Junior; Nahil Phommatheth, Sophomore; Ren Ramsey, Senior; Katelyn Sayyalinh, Junior; Ethen Stark, Junior; Wiktoria Szul, Senior; Maggie Torrisi, Senior; Trinity Williams, Sophomore; Kristen Woods, Sophomore.

Harlem High School, Machesney Park (Teacher: Barb Kurilla) Lauren Heslop, Junior.

Hononegah High School, Rockton (Teachers: Arra VanGalder, Rebecca Robinson) Lauren Bonnell, Senior; Madeline Boyce, Senior; Annika Liljeberg, Freshman; Mazie Mawyer, Sophomore; Brittany Mincolla, Junior; Isabella Myers, Junior; Melissa Sanderson, Senior; Jessica Schaefer, Freshman; Alex Thompson, Senior; Liam Tram, Senior; Carter West, Sophomore.

Huntley High School (Teachers: Jill Corapi, Kate Isaacson, Valerie Lindquist, Bridget Regan) Mady Benedetti, Senior; Allison Boroski, Junior; Jessica Essa, Senior; Emily Gaurino, Senior; Hadley Giocacchini, Junior; Katiana Herrera, Senior; Bradlee Leiseberg, Sophomore; Enrika Narvilaite, Senior; Patricia Swierczek, Senior; Elizabeth Tatosian, Senior; Shokie Tseumah, Junior; Olivia Van House, Sophomore.

Jefferson High School, Rockford (Teachers: Lynn Stockton, Gail Zernia, Matt Cwynar, Steve Hoover, Tabatha Dougherty) Erika De La Mora, Junior; Leah Dobratz, Sophomore; Madison Hoffman, Junior; Hazel McClinton, Senior; Carmen Mendoza, Senior; Yvette Nava, Junior; Bianca Ortiz, Sophomore; Jossie Parra, Junior; Leleany Rodriguez, Freshman.

Rockford Christian High School (Teachers: Liz Day, Kelli Sabin) Mikayla Brander, Senior; Joe Glass, Junior; Adam Santana, Freshman. 

Rockford Lutheran High School (Teacher: Molly Carter) Syeon Ha, Junior; Adreanna Richardson, Junior. 

Roosevelt High School, Rockford (Teacher: Brian Hierstein) Brian Ortiz, Junior; Abi Schlueter, Junior.

Winnebago High School (Teacher: Lisa Jimenez) Kaitlyn Anderson, Senior; Aurora Insko, Sophomore; Lorrayne Lightfoot, Sophomore. 

About Rockford Art Museum:

Founded in 1913, Rockford Art Museum exists to help make life in Rockford better for people of all ages through a permanent art collection, frequent art exhibitions, and lifelong art education. RAM is located inside the Riverfront Museum Park at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Learn more at rockfordartmuseum.org.