Fine Arts Students Honored with Multiple Awards

Eve Jursinski '21 is nominated for "Best Actress" in Playhouse Square's 2021 Dazzle Awards. The most talented high school performers in Northeast Ohio take center stage at Playhouse Square for the Dazzle Awards, which recognizes outstanding musical theater productions and student performances. Although participating high schools had to pivot, modify and reformat to fit current circumstances, a virtual Dazzle Awards showcase has been planned that will highlight the incredible talents of Northeast Ohio's high school students and recognize the 2021 Best Actor and Best Actress. The Best Actor and Best Actress will go on to represent Playhouse Square and Northeast Ohio at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as “The Jimmy Awards®,” presented by The Broadway League. This is Eve's second nomination for "Best Actress" in the Dazzle Awards.

Alyssa Olivera-Cerpa '21 received a prestigious National Silver Medal through the 2021 National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for her piece entitled Detained (shown above at right). Despite challenges imposed by the pandemic, more than 80,000 students across the country actively participated in the 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, with nearly 230,000 entries, making it an incredible feat for Alyssa and her artwork. "The situation at the U.S./Mexico border inspired this piece of artwork. In Detained, I painted Monarch butterflies, known for their great migration in search of their main food source, milkweed. With these symbols I wanted to show how immigration can be caused by a journey for survival and how it affects people of all ages. With the use of cages, I wanted to show forced separation when it seems that the journey has finally ended through the reference to families caged by fences at the border. I think art is really important because it has given me a way to raise awareness for issues that I am passionate about. It's always been a constant in my life, and I love being able to express myself through it," voiced Alyssa.

Emilee York '21 was honored with the 'Best in Show' category for Mixed Media in the Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards with her piece The Faithful. "The Faithful was created for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland's 2020 Yom Hashoah V’Hagvurah Creative Arts Contest inspired by the theme of '75 Years Since Liberation: What Have We Learned?' The concept of the pile of stars was inspired by the pile of shoes that I had seen on display at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. It was important to recognize those who wore the Star of David, even when it meant their life was at risk and stood up for what they believed in," voiced Emilee.

Grace Bilak '21 was recently recognized as one of the Governor's Art Show's top 25 finalists for her series Scandinavian Mythology (Series of 4). More than 6,000 pieces were entered for regional judging. 15 percent were selected by Regional jurors to move on to State judging. State jurors were then tasked with selecting 300 artworks for inclusion in the 2021 Exhibition. State jurors then honored Grace, along with 24 other students through the state, with the Top 25 Governor's Award of Excellence. The artwork is now available electronically.

Emily Pavlick '24 received third place at the English-Speaking Union Shakespeare Competition - Cleveland Branch. To prepare for the competition, participants study, memorize and act out a Shakespearean monologue and sonnet. Preparation includes studying iambic pentameter, diction and acting. Emily won the in-house Academy Shakespeare competition before advancing to the Regional competition.