Theater (Acting) (TIE): Gavin Morrison, Napa High School Senior

Teacher Patty Profitt writes this about Gavin:

Gavin is one of the most prolific actors in the Napa High Theatre Arts company, performing in every production that we offer. Gavin excels at character building, using context from the script and his acting experience to portray fully realized characters. In any role he plays, Gavin helps to anchor the scenes that he’s in, giving his scene partners a reliable presence to play off of. In addition to his work onstage, Gavin is a member of the International Thespian Society troupe 4460 and has earned the distinction of Honor Thespian for his hours of quality theater work.

Theater (Acting) (TIE): Chancellor Kelly, Justin-Siena High School Senior

Teacher James Bailey writes this about Chancellor:

Chance is not only an incredible performer but an incredible leader and example for the other students. This year alone, he was our lead in our play (Long John Silver in “Treasure Island”), lead in our musical (Adam/Noah in “Children of Eden”), captain of our improv team, student body co-president, and my T.A. He takes both theatre and choir (where he is a section leader) and plans to major in Theatre as a director. He ran his own arts summer camp for younger students and is the leader of the Comedy Club on campus. On top of all of this, he’s a great student and well-liked by his peers.

Theater (Directing): Celeste Harrison, American Canyon High School Senior

Teacher Summer Heartt writes this about Celeste:

In our theatre program, where students run the show, literally and figuratively, Celeste consistently shows enthusiasm and reliable energy as a collaborator, communicator, designer, and student. In the past three years, I have seen Celeste grow from curious creator to emboldened leader and maker! As a student tutor for my Drama 1 class as well as an Advanced Drama student, Celeste is an independent and creative thinker. She has seized every opportunity to participate in our program as a performer, sound designer, student tutor, and club Director of Activities. I have been a witness to her innate creativity, passion for inclusion, and bright intellect from her first days at ACHS. Celeste also cares deeply about ensuring that the ACHS Drama Program is successful for many years to come. Celeste has an admirable growth mindset, taking every opportunity to learn, reflect, and grow from her experiences. I am proud of the leader she has become.

Digital Art (Dec): Zoe Greeson, New Tech High School Sophomore

Teacher Lisa Gottfried  writes this about Zoe:

Zoe is a quiet but powerful force to be reckoned with. She has a clear point of view as an artist and pays attention to detail, color, and line in a way that is exacting. She is always willing to work with her teammates to help them further their own artwork, offers helpful and meaningful feedback, and is a classroom leader.

Digital Art (Jan): Maya Ramirez, New Tech High School Sophomore

Teacher Lisa Gottfried writes this about Maya:

Maya has a tenacity that shows her dedication to making great digital art. She has an eye for composition, form, and shape and takes great pride in precise designs. She is willing to help anyone in the classroom and shows an eagerness to constantly improve and learn. She’s well-liked by those in her class and shows an aptitude for self-managed exploration and learning. She’s got a kind heart and a willingness to try new things.

Studio/Traditional Art (TIE) (Dec): Karolina Becerra, Napa High School Senior

Teacher Kristi Crickmore writes this about Karolina:

Karolina has a brilliant touch and impressive knowledge of the human form with a paintbrush. Each time a new piece is started, I am eager to see the latest creation.

Studio/Traditional Art (TIE) (Dec): Hannah Root, Valley Oak High School Junior

Teacher Evrim Cakir writes this about Hannah:

Hannah, an extraordinary artist, fearlessly channels her skills to craft imaginative and captivating art pieces. With a profound passion for creativity, she seamlessly blends technical prowess with boundless imagination, resulting in a body of work that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. Hannah’s artistic journey is characterized by a fearless exploration of various mediums and styles…each piece reflects her dedication to pushing the limits of her artistic expression. In addition to her artistic endeavors, Hannah actively engages with the art community, fostering collaboration and sharing her passion with others. Hannah stands as a beacon, inviting others to join her on a journey of discovery through the limitless realm of art.

Studio/Traditional Art (TIE) (Jan): Naomi Matthews, Vintage High School Sophomore

Teacher Crystal Clark writes this about Naomi:

Naomi Matthews is incredibly talented and dedicated to her art. It has been a pleasure watching her blossom this year, creating progressively compelling, creative, and highly skilled work over the course of the past year and a half. Naomi is skilled in a variety of mediums. She has also been taking advantage of the youth art studio at Nimbus Arts in St. Helena, trying her hand at oil painting. Naomi inspires her peers with her strong work ethic and beautifully rendered works of art and is always open to supporting other students on their art journey. I’m looking forward to seeing what she does with her art in the coming months and years.

Studio/Traditional Art (Jan TIE): Jenny Fominskaya, Oxbow School Junior

Teacher LK Sleat writes this about Jenny:

Upon meeting Jenny, it quickly becomes clear that beneath her unassuming exterior lies a potent intellect. This intellect not only comprehends but excels in creating work grounded in an extraordinary conceptual foundation. This depth of thought collides with navigating being a Russian-American with immigrant parents and exploring a long historical, familial density. Jenny’s line work in her prints echoes a sense “Brutalist Architecture” in an elegant presentation, where the viewer has the opportunity to dissect or detangle its meaning.

Creative Writing: Wei Zhou, Oxbow School Junior

Teacher Wayne Buschman writes this about Wei:

Wei consistently demonstrated a keen interest in writing from the moment they stepped onto The Oxbow School’s campus. They [brought] their distinct background in spoken word poetry to each and every one of their written pieces. In their pieces, they often addressed themes of activism and Asian Americanness, imbuing narratives that usually teem with strife and violence with equal measures of optimism and hope. 

Whether in their memoir-style, no-holds-barred essay “Notes on Lying” or in their poem “Hong Xiuquan,” which blends history with keen reflection on personal identity, Wei’s creative writing does not fail to tackle difficult topics. Their body of work is as diverse as it is coherent, and it will only grow as Wei continues to immerse themselves in this medium.

Theater (Acting) (Dec): Grace Riddleberger, Redwood Middle School 8th Grade

Teacher Teresa Silvagni writes this about Grace:

Grace is a founding member and a leader of the Redwood Middle School Drama program. Her positive attitude and sense of humor shined in last year’s production of “Aladdin, Jr.,” where she played the role of the Genie, and she continues to shine this year in her role of Timon in “The Lion King, Jr.” We have a lot of faith in her responsibility and commitment to the show. She manages all of this while staying on the honor roll at school. We look forward to watching what she can accomplish in her future creative pursuits.

Theater (Acting) (Jan): Tuolumne Bunter, Stone Bridge School 8th Grade

Teacher Patty Profitt writes this about Tuolumne:

Tuolumne is a junior thespian member of Napa High’s International Thespian Society troupe. He has earned this distinction by performing consistently at a high level in a number of Napa High productions. As a high school teacher, I cast Tuolumne in my productions because he loves creating theatre, and I enjoy directing him. Tuolumne also performs for other programs as well – and was just awarded 2nd place in the Napa Valley Idol competition. Tuolumne is an extremely personable and mature young person. He is an asset to any theatre production and always upholds a high standard of work ethic and backstage protocols. He is thoughtful about creative aspects of theatre, often offering to make props or help paint the set. 

Band & Orchestra: Miles Chiu, Silverado Middle School 8th Grade

Teacher Brian Beggs writes this about Miles:

Miles has been a great student in the SMS Band program for three years. Miles’ musical skills are very high, and he continues to improve each week. Miles was recently selected to be part of the CMEA Bay Section Junior High Honor Band and performed in a concert with top middle school musicians and some high school students from over 60 Bay Area middle and high schools. Miles was the secretary for the SMS Music ASB last year. In addition to his musical abilities, Miles is a great contributor to the band classes, sets a great example for other students to follow in class, gets along well with his peers, and is always looking to help others. Any high school music program would be lucky to have Miles in their program!

Studio/Traditional Art (TIE) (Dec): Allyse Aliga, American Canyon Middle School 7th Grade

Teacher Shawna Hoxsie writes this about Allyse:

Allyse puts her all into every piece of art she creates. She is meticulous about every single detail and works hard to make sure her work is well-polished. She has a talent for composition and color as well. When she writes about her art, she is incredibly detailed in how she expresses herself and her artistic choices.

Studio/Traditional Art (TIE) (Dec): Xatziry Garcia Lopez, Silverado Middle School 7th Grade

Teacher Julia Zmed writes this about Xatziry:

Xatziry is dedicated to her craft with seemingly bottomless creative ideas and talent to spare. She has a natural ability to create balanced compositions with an eye for design. She works hard and with purpose every day in my class. I feel so lucky that I get to have her one more year at Silverado.

Studio/Traditional Art (TIE) (Jan): Oliver Shikowitz, Mayacamas Charter Middle School 7th Grade

Teacher Aimee Reed-Heidenreich writes this about Oliver:

Oliver is very creative in every project that is assigned. He has unique talent and stands out in the class. He has so much potential to do amazing things with his imagination.

Studio/Traditional Art (TIE) (Jan): Aidan Agtarap, American Canyon Middle School 7th Grade

Teacher Shawna Hoxsie writes this about Aidan:

Aidan is very passionate about his artwork. He is always asking to work on his work after school and during our FLEX time. He is meticulous about making his work just right and will ask for feedback any chance he gets in order to make sure he makes the right choices for his work. He is also very reflective when he writes about his work and the inspiration behind each decision.

Creative Writing: Julia Allen, Stone Bridge School 8th Grade

Teacher Michelle Conyers writes this about Julia:

Julia is a sensitive, thoughtful, kind young lady who sees the world through her heart and acts through her conscience. She is well-loved by her peers, who appreciate the level of depth that she consistently brings to class discussions. Concerning her creative writing, her stories can bring me to tears of hope or sadness. She is not one to boast of her talents, so I wish to do so through the Art Student of the Month!

Studio/Traditional Art (Dec): Penelope Nimedez, Willow Elementary 4th Grade

Teacher Shannon Hattyar writes this about Penelope:

Penelope is an artist who is deeply dedicated to the creative process, asking questions and making careful decisions that support the development of beautifully detailed compositions. As she creates, Penelope is not only thoughtful about the content of her pieces, but the careful usage of materials as well. 
This results in eye-catching outcomes! Penelope is an inspiration to her peers. She is eager to help others meet artistic fluency with their pieces as well. We are so proud of you, Penelope!

Studio/Traditional Art (TIE) (Jan): Athena Janssen, West Park Elementary 1st Grade

Teacher Grace Oldridge writes this about Athena:

Athena created this fantasy forest using wax resist and watercolors. She was very focused when creating the boldness of the lines of the trees. I love the color pattern she used on the trees and the added details of the little mushroom houses. Athena used beautiful watercolor techniques to create the ombre effect in the background and snow.

Studio/Traditional Art (TIE) (Jan): Rose Thoits, West Park Elementary 1st Grade

Teacher Grace Oldridge writes this about Rose:

Rose is an exceptional artist for her age! She always takes her time to create original work with lots of detail. She created this beautiful, whimsical fantasy forest using wax resist and watercolors. Her attentiveness in creating the bold lines of the trees made them pop and really catch your eye. Rose added some flair to her artwork by adding specks of watercolor using paintbrush techniques.