Oakcrest students win regional art awards, showcase large recycled-material sculptures

Samantha McDowell, a senior at Oakcrest High School, told the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District board that Oakcrest students won awards in multiple regional art competitions and displayed large recycled-material sculptures at the district Green Fair.

McDowell said the school held a second art contest in which Connor Ball took second place and Mia Germana received an honorable mention. "We had a new second art contest, with Connor Ball getting second place," McDowell said. "Pretty self explanatory what these are works are made out of, recycled material, like water bottles, anything, paper, cardboard, paper towel rolls, and other stuff as well, like paper mache."

She told the board that at the Tri-State Ability Art Show 2025 Sierra Sokovich won first place for a self-portrait and that Oakcrest received awards for artistic merit. McDowell also described entries and selections for Teen Arts 2025 and said several students' pieces were submitted for statewide consideration, including a watercolor titled "Springtime" by Mia Thomas.

At the district Green Fair, McDowell said students in 3-D and ceramics classes built very large props and sculptures from recycled materials, listing examples such as a giant goldfish and oversized consumer items used as props. She also summarized smaller contests: a Law Day art contest with freshman Gemma Marcier and sophomore Carissa Koffasoff earning recognition, and a congressional art competition entry from McDowell and classmates.

McDowell noted two AP Studio Art submissions: "This is our first 3 d submission ever," she said, identifying senior Bayou Miyakawa and junior Evan Staff House as students who submitted portfolios to the AP College Board and are awaiting scores.

Her remarks were given during the public comment/student report portion of the meeting; no board action was recorded on the art items reported.