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A big date with the Dali

The artwork and writings of Pinellas County's Scholastic Awards winners get a monthlong showcase.

By DONNA WINCHESTER
Published February 9, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - The visual and written work of more than 200 Pinellas students is being honored this month as the Salvador Dali Museum recognizes regional winners in the 2005 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition.

The students are among 250,000 who participated nationwide in the longest-running student recognition program for visual arts and writing in the United States.

More than 50 of the works will be forwarded for national competition in New York, where the students could win prizes ranging from $100 in cash to $5,000 scholarships.

This year's regional winners - 165 for art and 54 for writing - were chosen from 630 entries by a group of professional artists and former and current language arts teachers.

The arts panel awarded 32 Gold Keys, 32 Silver Keys and 107 awards of merit. The writing panel awarded 20 Gold Keys, 17 Silver Keys and 17 awards of merit.

Narrowing the field was difficult as always, said Sue Froemming, the district's art supervisor.

"The quality was definitely consistent with past years," Froemming said. "But I thought the personal expression was a lot more evident in the work this year."

Most entries were submitted by high school art and writing teachers, but the competition is open to middle school students as well, Froemming said.

The Festival of States has sponsored Pinellas County students for eight years.

Nationally, the awards are supported by about 100 local partners called regional sponsors who ensure that the work of Gold Key winners will be seen by representatives from top art and writing schools.

A limited number of works will be chosen as National Gold Key and American Vision award winners. The works will be on display in the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., in June.

Five Pinellas students earned American Vision nominations and five earned American Voice nominations in this year's Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Gold Key American Vision: Marcus Freeman, James Rideout and Eva Ann Sheppard, Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High; James Hendrix, Seminole High; and Amanda Kohler, Tarpon Springs High.

Gold Key American Voice: Kelly Marton, Bay Point Middle School; and Laura Badalamenti, Andrew DeLong, Jonathan Herron and Kalynd Kryza, East Lake High.

Gold Key Portfolio winners for art include Susan Thompson and Laura Andersen, Dixie Hollins High; Patrick Blackburn and Shelby Silvernell, Palm Harbor University High; Benaiah Edwards, Jennifer Bacher, Jessica Dassing, Justin Runfola, Andrei Monzon Aguirre, Andrea Pejack, Jill Beals and Kurt McRobert, Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High; and Peter Ebeid, Tarpon Springs High.

Additional Gold Key winners for art include Courtney Dake, Countryside High; Rachel Reardon, John Hopkins Middle School; Elizabeth Gonzalez and Athena Thompson, Largo High; Patrick Blackburn, Palm Harbor University High; Andrea Pejack, Jennifer Bacher, Eva Ann Sheppard, Jill Beals, Jennifer Bacher, Elizabeth Gonzalez and Kate Kaelber, Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High; and Lindsay Rapp, Skycrest Christian School (two awards).

Gold Key Portfolio winners for writing include Caitlin Carey, Mansi Goyal, Jonathan Herron, Amie Killey, Rachel Pantoja and Melissa Schuck, East Lake High.

Additional Gold Key winners for writing include Jocelyn Howard and Eli Marger, Bay Point Middle School; Chelsea St. John and Carissa Warner, Countryside High; Alice Miano, Amar Ali, Jonathan Herron and Adam Montgomery, East Lake High; and Montana Kroll, Southside Fundamental Middle School.

The work of regional Scholastic Art and Writing award winners will be on display at the Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S, through Feb. 20. Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday with extended hours until 8 p.m. Thursday; and Sunday from noon to 5:30 p.m. Call 823-2767 for information.

[Last modified February 9, 2005, 00:43:19]