National arts competition recognizes 14 S.C. students
Governor’s School for the Arts, homeschool students honored
The National YoungArts Foundation holds one of the largest student art competitions each year, highlighting promising young artists aged 15-18 from around the country in classical music, dance, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing.
This year, 14 students from South Carolina were selected as winners from an applicant pool of nearly 11,000 nationally, including four winners awarded with distinction.
SCGSAH students who received awards from YoungArts. Click to enlarge. Provided photo.
The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities had seven students awarded:
- Paige Dayton, film award winner.
- Stella Warren-Page, visual arts award winner.
- Dune Adams, fiction award winner.
- Jayden Benenhaley, nonfiction award winner.
- Tristyn Gibson, nonfiction award winner.
- Gus Messinides, nonfiction award winner.
- Anna Castro Spratt, fiction award winner with distinction.
Other South Carolina winners include Elgin homeschool student Brooklynn Thatcher, classical music/violin award winner; S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics student Rachel Graham, nonfiction award winner; Charleston School of the Arts student Merrik Moriarty, fiction award winner with distinction; Miyah LaGrant of Sumter High School, dance/modern/contemporary award winner with distinction; Fine Arts Center students William Armstrong and Ronnie Elliott, jazz award winners; and Anna Cassell, visual arts award winner with distinction.
“An artist’s lifelong journey with YoungArts begins by applying to our annual national competition,” said YoungArts President Clive Chang. “There is no other organization that provides its winners across 10 disciplines with ongoing professional and creative development opportunities and a community of support throughout their entire artistic career. The impact of this award on 15- to 18-year-old artists will be felt for decades to come.”
YoungArts winners awarded with distinction are invited to Miami to participate in National YoungArts Week, Jan. 5-12, 2025, featuring classes, workshops and mentorship from internationally renowned artists. Winners with distinction are also eligible to be nominated to become a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, one of the highest honors given to high school seniors bestowed by the president of the United States.
This year, YoungArts award winners at all levels will receive cash prizes between $250 and $10,000 and the opportunity to learn from leading artists such as ballerina Misty Copeland, dance artists Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Reiner, actress Lorna Courtney, multidisciplinary artist Brian Ellison, and national bestselling author and filmmaker Abigail Hing Wen. YoungArts winners also become part of an alumni network of over 22,000 artists, which offers them additional professional opportunities throughout their careers.
YoungArts alumni represent a dynamic group of artists including visual artists Jean Shin and Daniel Arsham, musicians Jon Batiste and Terence Blanchard, dancer and choreographer Camille A. Brown, actors Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Hunter Schafer, and Andrew Rannells, poet Amanda Gorman, opera singer Denyce Graves, singer-songwriter Judith Hill, violinist Jennifer Koh, playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, dancer Desmond Richardson, composer Shaina Taub, and many more.
National YoungArts Foundation
The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison to identify and nurture the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts, and assist them at critical junctures in their educational and professional development. Through a wide range of annual programs, regular performances, and partnerships with some of the nation’s leading cultural institutions, YoungArts aspires to create a strong community of alumni and a platform for a lifetime of encouragement, opportunity and support.
YoungArts’ signature program is an application-based award for emerging artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12 from across the U.S. Selected through a blind adjudication process, YoungArts Winners receive valuable support, including financial awards of up to $10,000, professional development and educational experiences working with renowned mentors-such as ballerina Misty Copeland, dance artists Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Reiner, actress Lorna Courtney, multidisciplinary artist Brian Ellison, and National Bestselling Author and Filmmaker Abigail Hing Wen. Additionally, YoungArts Winners are eligible for nomination as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students who exemplify academic and artistic excellence.
For more information, visit youngarts.org, facebook.com/YoungArtsFoundation or twitter.com/YoungArts.
S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities
Located in Greenville, the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities (SCGSAH) cultivates young artists from across the state through pre-professional training in the areas of creative writing, dance, drama, music and visual arts. As a public, residential high school, serving juniors and seniors, students refine their talents in a master-apprentice community while receiving a nationally recognized academic education. Summer programs are available to rising 7th-12th grade students. SCGSAH also serves as a resource to all teachers and students in South Carolina, offering comprehensive outreach programs designed to bring together artists, educators, community organizations and schools.