Quad City Arts Awards Over $9,000 to High School Artists

Quad City Arts awards $9,500 to local high school students and art instructors in a ceremony that took place Thursday, April 2. Exhibit runs through April 30 and contains artwork from 15 schools from both sides of the river, 20 exhibiting instructors, and 168 student entries.

The 49th High School Art Invitational is made possible by the William Butterworth Foundation (the major sponsor of the event), The Morency Family Giving Fund, the Empeople Credit Union, the Figge Art Academy, the Rock Island Art Guild, Quad City Arts' Board Members, Bereskin Gallery, Midwest Bath Co, and additional sponsors noted for individual awards.

Quad City Arts' High School Art Invitational is a significant milestone for high school artists as it provides a platform for them to display and sell their work publicly, gain formal recognition for their creative talents, and compete for awards and scholarships. It encourages young artists to pursue careers in the arts and educates them about the process of competing for gallery shows, an essential aspect of a professional visual artist's career. Additionally, it showcases the creativity of young people to the public, underlining the importance of creative skills in problem-solving across various professions. Through these awards, young artists receive early career recognition, which can be instrumental in their future endeavors in the arts. By recognizing and encouraging young talent, we invest in the next generation of creatives in our community.

Don't forget to come in and vote for the People's Choice Award!
View all winning award-winning entries online: quadcityarts.com/hs-invitational-2026
 
Best of Show
Lily Almanza, Figge Art Academy & Moline High School

First Place
Sherry Tang, Pleasant Valley High School

Second Place
Kate Walsh, Alleman Catholic High School

Juror’s Choice Awards for Artistic Excellence
Rose Hains, Homeschooled
Nathan Kampe​, Davenport Central High School​
Weston Libby​, Pleasant Valley High School
Lillian Prather​, Moline High School
 
Quad City Arts' Staff Picks:
Zeth Boyle​, Pleasant Valley High School
Katharine Stolley​, Davenport Central High School
 
The Rock Island Art Guild Members’ Selections
Austin Duesterhaus​, Moline High School
Addie Trees​, Pleasant Valley High School
Leam Tyler​, Pleasant Valley High School
Nickolas McConchie​, Rock Island High School
Liyah York​, Moline High School

Clifford Coussens Memorial Award 
Cajayla Crawford​, Davenport Central High School

Don Heggen Memorial Awards
Lily Roth​, Moline High School
Amanda Oosthuizen​, Davenport North High School
 
The Most Original Concept Award sponsored by Joel & Diane Franken
Sherry Tang, Pleasant Valley High School
 
The Cutting-Edge Award sponsored by Cutting Edge Productions
Karmen Fernandez​, Davenport West High School
 
Helen Doehler Memorial Award for Artistic Excellence
Madison Campbell-Baker​, Mercer County High School

Charlotte Doehler-Morrison Award 
Cajayla Crawford​, Davenport Central High School
 
Excellence in Photography Award sponsored by Jack Wilhoit
Cody Secoy​, Davenport West High School

Ralph Iaccarino Awards
Elena Diedrich​, Davenport Central High School
Carlin Petersen​, Davenport Central High School

Carlo Centore Awards for Mastery of Technique
Sol Moldt​, Figge Art Academy
Maggie Burns​, Moline High School​
 
Steve Pray Award for Mastery of Technique
Carys Ricklefs​, Davenport Central High School
Marley Shelby​, Davenport West High School
 
Zimmerman Honda Award for Mastery of Technique
Amani Miles​, Davenport Central High School
Jazmin Knapp​, Davenport West High School
Anna Holtz​, Holtz Homeschool Academy

Living Lands & Waters Award for best use of Recycled Materials
Jersey Hajostek​, Mercer County ​High School
 
Excellence Award sponsored by Midwest Bath Co
Hailey Williams​, Davenport West High School​

Amy Whiteman Memorial Awards for Portraiture
Lily Almanza​, Figge Art Academy
Rose Hains​, Homeschooled​
Weston Libby​, Pleasant Valley High School 
Carys Ricklefs​, Davenport Central High School 

Cassidy Piersall Memorial Award
Jersey Hajostek​, Mercer County ​High School

Keith Bonnstetter Memorial Award for Best Use of Paper as Medium
Bridget Driver​, Davenport West High School
Emalyn Millar​, Mercer County High School
 
W.C. Griffiths Award for Whimsical Art
Esther Barfels​, Davenport Central High School
Carlin Petersen​, Davenport Central High School
Evelyn Toher, Davenport Central High School
Vivian Wright​, Rock Island ​High School

Bereskin Gallery Awards
Taylor Fuess​, Central DeWitt High School
Amani Miles​, Davenport Central High School
Gia Punchak​, Davenport West High School
Zoey Schutte​, Davenport North High School

Awards for excellence in film sponsored by dphilms/TAG
Honorable Mention: Lilly Clayton​, Mercer County ​High School
2nd Place: Mason Millar​, Davenport West ​High School
1st Place: Spencer Andresen, Logan Simpson, Mark Graves, Lincoln Scott, Mick Palmer, Jesse DeFrieze, & Kolton Hardin, Mercer County High School

Artist of Promise Certificates sponsored by the Figge Art Academy
Lincoln Abel​, Moline High School
KaMa'lah Benefield​, Mid City High School
Gracie Green​, Central DeWitt High School
Charis Moore​, Rock Island ​High School
Amanda Oosthuizen​, Davenport North High School
Connor Schultz​, Rock Island ​High School
Wyatt Thiesen​, Moline High School
Kate Walsh​, Alleman Catholic High School

Teacher’s Awards
1st place: Pat Bereskin​, Figge Art Academy
2nd place: Tara Guidinger​, Mercer County High School
3rd place: Lisa Stisser​, Kewanee High School
 
This exhibition features the Quad Cities’ most promising artists as they express themselves through paintings, drawings, sculpture, metals, ceramics, photography, digital media, and film. 

View more photos of the event in our Facebook page linked in the post below! 
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