Gingerich honored for artistic talents

Sara Gingerich, a junior at Potter-Dix High School, was recently presented with a pair of honors for her artistic talents. She was chosen as the winner of the third Congressional district's art competition and was honored as a Nebraska Young Artist award winner by the University of Nebraska.

Gingerich was one of 60 students statewide honored at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts held its Nebraska Young Artist Awards on April 8.

Students applied for the recognition and submitted an example of their work. Applications were received from 143 students across the state. Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts faculty chose the 60 students who came to UNL on April 8 to be recognized.

Honored students took tours of the arts facilities, attended classes, met faculty and college students and had lunch. Their parents also attended.

Students selected to participate in the Nebraska Young Artist Awards were asked to nominate the teacher who provided them with the greatest amount of mentoring and support in the development of their special talents.

The day concluded with an awards ceremony in the Sheldon Museum of Art's auditorium at 3 p.m. Students received a certificate, as well as a very special original piece of artwork commissioned for this event and created by a Department of Art and Art History printmaking students Skyler Simpson and Madison Svendgard.

Congressman Adrian Smith also recently visited Potter-Dix High School to present Gingerich with the first place award in the third Congressional district art contest. She won first for her artwork, "Rustic Cowgirl." It will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.