A visual art exhibit with the work of top students was shown at the Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center following the 26th Annual Celebration of Art and the 43rd Annual Jeff Cross Memorial incentive awards and scholarship ceremony. The recent event was sponsored by the Sonoran Arts League and CCUSD Education & Community Services.
Visual art teachers in the community selected their most gifted art students in third through 12th grade to acknowledge their excellence and each student had a piece in the display.
This year the top honors of the Jeff Cross Memorial Bronze Bell and the scholarship were both awarded to Sydney Terpstra, a graduating senior attending Cactus Shadows High School, for her dedication and talent.
“Her work is uniquely creative and is executed with mastery of media,” says Sonoran Arts League Youth Art Chair Robin Ray. “The concepts and themes in her work are well developed and explore thoughtful provoking images. We honor the excellence and talents of the gifted art students in our community and know they will go out in the world to make a difference with their creative talents.”
Sydney’s art was selected based on her portfolio, sketchbook, essay, and transcripts. She is planning to attend Arizona State University this fall to pursue an art education.
In addition, all the top students received an incentive award, which included a collection of art supplies to fuel them through the summer.
The Sonoran Arts League is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), volunteer-based, arts service organization dedicated to actively advancing art, artists and art education with more than 780 members from around the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit sonoranartsleague.org, email [email protected], or call 480-575-6624.
