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Student artist wins national honors

award winning artwork by Alex Henion

Roanoke County Public School (RCPS) art students competed in the annual Scholastic Art Competition earlier this Spring.  

Alex Henion earned a national Silver Medal for the illustration entitled “Pulling” and a national American Visions Medal for the painting “72.” The American Visions Medal is the highest honor bestowed upon a high school student in the competition. Henion, a Cave Spring High School senior, under the instruction of Ms. Natalie Strum at Burton’s Center for Visual Arts, has been invited to attend a national ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City later this year.

“To receive three of the five American Visions nominations at the regional level is unprecedented in our region,” said Sara Cubberley, RCPS supervisor of art. “Alex may also be the first RCPS student to win two national medals in one school year,” she added.

“I’m amazed each year with the outstanding talent level of our art students,” said Dr. Ken Nicely, superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools.

“The award-winning artwork our students produce each year is a direct reflection of the amazing instruction provided by our art teachers,” Dr. Nicely said.

Earlier this year, RCPS students also claimed an impressive number of awards in the Southwest Virginia Regional Scholastic Art Competition, including four American Visions nominees, 16 Gold Keys, 17 silver keys, and 23 Honorable Mentions.

Regional American Visions Nominees (Highest honor at the regional level, judged in the National Competition):

  • Alex Henion (3), BCAT
  • Noah Settle, BCAT

Regional Gold Keys (Judged in the National Competition):

  • Addisyn Ackley (2), BCAT
  • Vy Chau (2), BCAT
  • Talmage Dascenzo, BCAT
  • Autumn Engle, BCAT
  • Ava Giannini, BCAT
  • Alex Henion (2), BCAT
  • Sophia Pearce, HVHS
  • Noah Settle, BCAT
  • Sadie Wagner, BCAT
  • Claire Wei, CSHS

Regional Silver Keys

  • Addisyn Ackley (2), BCAT
  • Sydney Bobo (2), BCAT
  • Abby Carter, BCAT
  • Vy Chau (2), BCAT
  • Autumn Engle, BCAT
  • Allison Fitzgerald, BCAT
  • Alex Henion, BCAT
  • Stephen Leddy, BCAT
  • Alejandro Lopez, BCAT
  • Alexandra Mullins, BCAT
  • Mark Noftsinger, BCAT
  • Sierra Pohlsen, BCAT
  • Gabby Spencer, BCAT
  • Sadie Wagner, BCAT

Regional Honorable Mention

  • Aiden Alexander, BCAT
  • Isabelle Arbaugh, BCAT
  • Sydney Bobo (2),BCAT
  • Daniel Brewer, BCAT
  • Magnolia Burden (2), BCAT
  • Abby Carter, BCAT
  • Emma Copenhaver (2), BCAT
  • Autumn Engle, BCAT
  • Allison Fitzgerald (3), BCAT
  • Ava Giannini, BCAT
  • Alejandro Lopez, BCAT
  • Camden Phillips (2), BCAT
  • Sierra Pohlsen (2), BCAT
  • Gabby Spencer, BCAT
  • Sadie Wagner, BCAT
  • Kiersten Zinn, NMS