A promotional graphic for the 68th Annual Visual Arts Competition for Young People. Set against a vibrant multicolored abstract painted background with broad brushstrokes in yellow, pink, blue, green, red, and purple, three ornate gold picture frames are arranged at slightly varied angles. The left frame contains a photo of a teenage girl with long straight blonde hair wearing a denim jacket, smiling in front of colorful artwork and a competition banner. The center frame — the largest and most elaborate — displays a student artwork: a mixed media piece showing a young woman with long dark hair holding a white mask or veil above her face, rendered in graphite with blue and red painted accents. The right frame contains a photo of a teenage boy with dark hair wearing a light blue polo shirt, smiling in front of the exhibition display. Bold black block text along the bottom reads 'VISUAL ARTS COMPETITION WINNERS.

ABSS Celebrates 89 Student Winners at the 68th Annual Visual Arts Competition for Young People

James Shuler

March 23, 2026

The Alamance-Burlington School System is proud to announce that 89 students from across the district have earned top honors in the 68th Annual Visual Arts Competition for Young People, presented by Alamance Arts and sponsored in part by Impact Alamance. Collectively, ABSS students brought home 112 awards — 45 at the middle school level and 67 at the high school level — spanning categories from Acrylic Painting and Charcoal Drawing to Digital Artwork, Mixed Media, and Weaving/Fiber Art. Artwork from all placing students is on display at Alamance Arts, 213 S. Main Street in Graham, through April 24, 2026.

The awards reception and ceremony were held on March 19, 2026, where Middle School winners were recognized at 6:00 PM and High School winners at 7:00 PM. Family, friends, teachers, and community members gathered to celebrate the remarkable creative talents of Alamance County's young artists.

Now in its 68th year, the competition is open to all students in Alamance County and spans 20 categories, with awards for 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, and Honorable Mention. Every student who placed has their artwork featured in the exhibit. This year marks a particularly exciting milestone — the number of participating schools doubled compared to last year, with significantly increased public school participation. In a historic first, a public school student took home the Best in Show award at both the middle school and high school levels.

Kat Harris, Artistic Services Director with Alamance Arts, reflected on the significance of the competition: "Our mission is to be community focused and to make arts accessible. This competition has been a beloved tradition for 68 years, and seeing the growth in participation — especially from public schools — is incredibly exciting."

Thank you to the art teachers whose dedication and encouragement made it possible for so many students to participate and to Cultural Arts Director Andy Carter for making the connections and promoting the event!

Best in Show

Best in Show — Middle School Emma Faucette | "Untitled" | Colored Pencil Drawing Woodlawn Middle School | 8th Grade | Teacher: Kate Gunther

A teenage girl with long straight strawberry blonde hair and aviator glasses pushed up on her head smiles warmly at the camera in front of her First Place artwork.

Best in Show — High School Misheel Tamir | "Disassembling" | Mixed Media 2D Southeast Alamance High School | 11th Grade | Teacher: Windy Lampson

Close up photograph of the art work created by Misheel Tamir - it depicts a girl surrounded by hands puliing aspects of her hair and clothes away from her, as if she is being disassembled

MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARD WINNERS

Graham Middle School
Art Teacher: Jessica Moschouris

2nd Place — Miletzy Ramos, "Unknown," Acrylic Painting
3rd Place — Alayla Braswell, "Unknown," Non-Ceramic Sculpture
3rd Place — Iyania Beasley, "Unknown," Pen, Marker & Ink Drawing

Graham Middle School student pointing up to one of her art with a 2nd place ribbon

Southern Alamance Middle School
Art Teacher: Austin Duval

1st Place — Gracie Teaque, "Neurographic Design," Mixed Media 2D
1st Place — Taylor Lindsey, "Landscape Painting," Tempera Painting
3rd Place — Serenity Daniel, "Neurographic Design," Mixed Media 2D
3rd Place — Sidney Fishtorn, "Cubist Guitar Painting," Tempera Painting
3rd Place — Gwen Mable, "Agamograph Design," Mixed Media 3D
Honorable Mention — Eislyn Meehan, "Agamograph Design," Mixed Media 3D
Honorable Mention — Malakai McGowan, "Untitled," Printmaking
Honorable Mention — Za'Merah Sowells, "Landscape Painting," Tempera Painting
Honorable Mention — Victoria Martin, "Landscape Painting," Tempera Painting

Turrentine Middle School
Art Teacher: Terry Simpson

3rd Place — Xzavion Wilson, "Self-Portrait," Colored Pencil Drawing
Honorable Mention — Omar Maldonado, "Cup," Acrylic Painting
Honorable Mention — Dayana Garcia, "Hestia," Pencil/Graphite Drawing

Western Alamance Middle School
Art Teacher: Dana W. Wheeler

1st Place — Hadley Clayton, "Separate Ways," Charcoal Drawing
1st Place — Iris Morales Suarez, "Changing Leaves," Watercolor Painting
1st Place — Grace Brown, "Monochrome," Pencil/Graphite Drawing
2nd Place — Hadley Clayton, "Lost," Charcoal Drawing
2nd Place — Javiera Soto-Cruz, "Butterfly Effect," Mixed Media 2D
3rd Place — Carly Miciotto, "Watchful & Wise," Printmaking
Honorable Mention — Jasmaria Banda, "Dragon Eye," Watercolor Painting
Honorable Mention — Timothy Ritter, "This & That," Colored Pencil Drawing

Three charcoal drawings on display with focus primarily on Hadley Clayton's winning piece depicting two ladybugs drawn in charcoal

Student Timothy Ritter standing beside his winning piece This or That which is a collage or various elements in colorful color pencil style

Woodlawn Middle School
Art Teacher: Kate Gunther

Best in Show — Emma Faucette, "Untitled," Colored Pencil Drawing
1st Place — Jernigan Barts, "Julio's Heart," Ceramic Non-Utilitarian Sculpture
1st Place — Emma Faucette, "Untitled," Colored Pencil Drawing
1st Place — Gaby Ramos, "Life on Mars," Collage
1st Place — Bentley Waller, "Untitled," Pen, Marker & Ink Drawing
2nd Place — Lillian Rosales, "Untitled," Ceramic Utilitarian Sculpture
2nd Place — Lilliana Rosales, "This Cat Likes Water," Mixed Media 3D
2nd Place — Cole Bowland, "Apples on a Cloth," Pen, Marker & Ink Drawing
2nd Place — Melanie Palomares, "Untitled," Pencil/Graphite Drawing
2nd Place — Liam Medina, "Untitled," Oil/Chalk Pastel
2nd Place — Marifer Garcia Carillo, "Untitled," Watercolor Painting
2nd Place — Delilah Hall & Daisy Watts, "Untitled," Weaving/Fiber Art
2nd Place — Catherine Castillo, "Untitled," Tempera Painting
3rd Place — Trinity Cash, "Pumpkin in All Caps," Charcoal Drawing
3rd Place — Melanie Palomares, "Untitled," Ceramic Utilitarian Sculpture
3rd Place — Michael Spina, "Untitled," Oil/Chalk Pastel
Honorable Mention — Bentley Waller, "Bentley," Mixed Media 2D
Honorable Mention — Gaby Ramos, "Gaby," Mixed Media 2D
Honorable Mention — Itzel Luna-Espinoza, "Untitled," Non-Ceramic Sculpture
Honorable Mention — Kendall Randolph, "Imperfect Cheetah," Printmaking
Honorable Mention — Emma Faucette, "Untitled," Watercolor Painting

Woodlawn principal takes a photo of student artwork

Cole Bowland wearing a blue Under Armour athletic half-zip shirt stands beside his art

Alamance Virtual School
Art Teacher: John Dodson

1st Place — Lillith Stewart, "Operation Strawberry Shortcake," Digital Artwork

HIGH SCHOOL AWARD WINNERS

Southeast Alamance High School
Art Teacher: Windy Lampson

Best in Show — Misheel Tamir, "Disassembling," Mixed Media 2D
1st Place — Olivia Miller, "Proper Timeline," Acrylic Painting
1st Place — Ava Garner, "Evolving Fear," Digital Artwork
1st Place — Ava Garner, "Potential," Oil Painting
1st Place — Misheel Tamir, "Disassembling," Mixed Media 2D
1st Place — Ava Robertson, "Thank You," Mixed Media 3D
1st Place — Burak Tascan, "Halcyon Glare," Pen, Marker & Ink Drawing
2nd Place — Misheel Tamir, "The Apex and the Exile," Watercolor Painting
2nd Place — Elias Woodard, "You're So Used to Taking Care of Him, You've Forgotten How to Take Care of Yourself," Mixed Media 2D
2nd Place — Daphne Quintos, "Paper Crane," Oil Painting
3rd Place — Jordyn Trapp, "From the Sky to Eternity," Collage
3rd Place — Genesis Sofia Flores, "Honduras," Ceramic Utilitarian
3rd Place — Shailah Thea Velasco, "The Eye Stuck in Time," Mixed Media 2D
3rd Place — Adriana Venegas, "There's Still Hope," Mixed Media 3D
3rd Place — Daphne Quintos, "Shorty," Oil Painting
Honorable Mention — Burak Tascan, "Faith's Legacy," Colored Pencil Drawing
Honorable Mention — Geewan Mungroo, "Smoked BBQ Ribs," Oil Painting
Honorable Mention — Serena Tumey, "Royal Rage," Mixed Media 3D
Honorable Mention — Gracelyn Lynch, "Childhood," Mixed Media 3D
Honorable Mention — Serena Haak, "Seen," Pencil/Graphite Drawing

An acrylic painting showing a locket on top of papers on a desk, detailed, by student Olivia Miller

Eastern Alamance High School

Art Teachers: Lauri Daughtry / Shelby Dahl

1st Place — Jose Dominques Cruz, "It's a Stick Up!," Ceramic Non-Utilitarian Sculpture
1st Place — Jose Dominques Cruz, "The Linerist," Ceramic Utilitarian Sculpture
2nd Place — Aubrey Dial, "Laid to Rest," Ceramic Non-Utilitarian Sculpture
2nd Place — Charlie Huttle, "A Place to Hold Memories," Ceramic Utilitarian Sculpture
2nd Place — Claire Royal, "Your Power," Pencil/Graphite Drawing
3rd Place — Maggie Skinner, "Mortality," Ceramic Non-Utilitarian Sculpture
3rd Place — Marcos Aguero Muriedos, "A Garden of Lines," Pen, Marker & Ink Drawing
3rd Place — Nathan Williams, "The Fake Face of Fast Fashion," Printmaking
3rd Place — Lesli Hernandez, "The Fear of Falling," Watercolor Painting
Honorable Mention — Peyton Bright, "Baby Seal," Ceramic Non-Utilitarian Sculpture
Honorable Mention — Riley Justice, "Wendigo," Ceramic Non-Utilitarian Sculpture
Honorable Mention — Morgan Covington, "Native American Sacred Box," Ceramic Utilitarian Sculpture
Honorable Mention — Morgan Covington, "What are You Lookin' At?," Ceramic Utilitarian Sculpture
Honorable Mention — Annalynn Hunter, "When the Snow Melts," Acrylic Painting

Several ceramic sculptures on display; a black cat surprised by a mouse king, a detailed skull and clavicular, a sleeping dog, a seal, and a pot

Southern Alamance High School

Art Teachers: Tia Kuhns / Rachel Snipes

1st Place — Kendal Dixon, "Wrestling and Clinging," Collage
1st Place — Chandler Carter, "Corrupted Faith," Printmaking
1st Place — Kara Welch, "New Moon," Tempera Painting
1st Place — Dayssi Reyes, "Duck Duck Goose," Weaving/Fiber Art
1st Place — Lydia Hubbard, "Ouch Mouse," Non-Ceramic Sculpture
2nd Place — Eddie Donohoe, "Flightless Escape," Printmaking
2nd Place — Amber Dawkins, "New Beginning," Digital Artwork
2nd Place — Paisley Itson, "1 Hour Still Life Study," Charcoal Drawing
2nd Place — Kaia Forbes, "Just Out of Reach," Oil/Chalk Pastel
2nd Place — Dayssi Reyes, "Wandering Connection," Digital Photography
2nd Place — Addyson Terry, "Saddled by Faith," Tempera Painting
3rd Place — Chandler Carter, "Coat of Arms," Digital Artwork
3rd Place — Alexis Burgos, "Allure," Non-Ceramic Sculpture
Honorable Mention — Kendal Dixon, "In Spirit and Truth," Acrylic Painting
Honorable Mention — Eddie Donohoe, "I Didn't Mean To Hurt Her," Collage
Honorable Mention — Paisley Itson, "Aphrodite," Charcoal Drawing
Honorable Mention — Alexis Burgos, "A Vulture's Breakfast," Non-Ceramic Sculpture

Taylor Lindsey pointing up to his first place tempera painting of a sun over mountains

Walter Williams High School

Art Teachers: Elizabeth Wooten / Emily Brinskelle

1st Place — Hannah Aaron, "Backstage," Charcoal Drawing
1st Place — Iris Lin, "Tomatoes," Watercolor Painting
3rd Place — Emily Garatachia Bahena, "2nd Floor," Charcoal Drawing
3rd Place — Emily Garatachia Bahena, "Crepes aux Myrtia," Oil/Chalk Pastel
Honorable Mention — Stephanie Quick, "Jeep," Charcoal Drawing
Honorable Mention — Ava Clark, "Reflections," Oil/Chalk Pastel
Honorable Mention — Sebas Marquez, "Flamenco," Oil/Chalk Pastel
Honorable Mention — Summer Phothisen, "Blue Autumn," Watercolor Painting

A watercolor painting of three tomatoes by student Iris Lin

Western Alamance High School

Art Teacher: Dana Wheeler

1st Place — Dayne Wheeler, "Aircraft Carrier Ikigai," Non-Ceramic Sculpture
2nd Place — Joseph Houston, "Opus," Mixed Media 3D
3rd Place — Dayne Wheeler, "Turbulent Ocean," Acrylic Painting

Artwork from Joseph Houston depicting a giraffe eating a branch with a large sun behind it

Western High student Dayne Wheeler standing in front of his large mixed-media ship art titled "Aircraft Carrier Ikigai" depicting the carrier in primarily red and white colors

Alamance-Burlington Early College at ACC (ABEC) Art Teacher: Traci Barger

1st Place — Brandon Kennedy, "Hunted," Digital Photography
3rd Place — Brandon Kennedy, "Church Bells Ringing," Digital Photography

Brandon Kennedy standing besides his photographs on display at Alamance Art Museum

Alamance Virtual School Art Teacher: John Dodson

2nd Place — Evi Virgen, "Extraordinarily Wabi-Sabi," Pen, Marker & Ink Drawing
Honorable Mention — Evi Virgen, "Observance," Mixed Media 2D
Honorable Mention — Braxton Knight, "Under Da Sea," Pen, Marker & Ink Drawing

Student artwork remains on display at Alamance Arts, 213 S. Main Street, Graham, NC through April 24, 2026. For more information, visit alamancearts.org or contact Kat Harris at artservices@alamancearts.org or 336-226-4495.

A large display of student artwork, including Best in Show for Middle School, with a sign for the event in the foreground

Event flyer with details about the 68th Visual Arts Competition for Young People - March 16-April 24th at the Alamance Art Museum