Labette Community College Celebrates Student Creativity at 35th Annual High School Art Competition

Parsons, KS – Labette Community College (LCC) proudly hosted the 35th Annual High School Art Competition and Exhibition on Thursday, April 3, welcoming 180 students from 13 area high schools to its campus.

This year’s event not only showcased the remarkable talent of young artists but also offered hands-on experiences designed to inspire future creativity. Students participated in interactive demonstrations in graphic design, photography, and 3D printing, gaining valuable exposure to tools and techniques used in modern creative industries.

LCC Art Director, Burt Bucher said, “I was amazed at the talent level of our SEK High School Art students as were our jurors for this exhibition. It is such an honor to host such an amazing group of students and their outstanding teachers who make this possible. I look forward to hosting this event annually and can’t wait to see it grow just like these young artists!”

Artwork was displayed across a wide range of categories—including Painting, Drawing, Digital Art, Mixed Media, 3D, Photography, and Miscellaneous Art—inside the Zetmeir Family Athletic Complex, where the public was invited to view the exhibit throughout the morning.
At noon, students, educators, families, and guests gathered for a judges’ critique and awards ceremony, where top artists in each category were formally recognized for their outstanding work. A Best of Show award was also presented to one exceptional piece that stood out among all submissions.

2025 Award Winners:
Painting
1st – Lady in the Sun, Morgan Lasco (Cherryvale, 12th)
2nd – Lady with Glasses, Morgan Lasco (Cherryvale, 12th)
3rd – Black Elk Trail, Leo Norman (Pittsburg, 11th)
HM – Girl with Pearl Earring, Lei Graham (Uniontown, 12th)
HM – Blueflowers, Brooklyn Baugher (Cherryvale, 9th)

Drawing
1st – Winston, McKinley Sutton (Uniontown, 9th)
2nd – Hank the Pig, Jewel Endicott (Uniontown, 11th)
3rd – The Scream, Jewel Endicott (Uniontown, 11th)
HM – I Am Beautiful, Makiah Woods (Uniontown, 9th)
HM – My Lil Duck, Jewel Endicott (Uniontown, 11th)

Digital Art
1st – The Minds in Two, Kiersten McCarty (Prairie View, 10th)
2nd – Travelors, Devon Keusor (Chanute, 12th)
3rd – The Future of AI, Hailey Blankinship (Neodesha, 12th)
HM – Canned Food, Madi Davis (Fort Scott, 10th)
HM – The Shape of You, Eddie Darling (Pittsburg, 11th)

Mixed Media
1st – Paper Reflections, Leo Norman (Pittsburg, 11th)
2nd – Motorcycle Guy, Leo Norman (Pittsburg, 11th)
3rd – Intertwined, Lilah McCarty (Prairie View, 12th)
HM – Sea Turtle, Paige Figura (Oswego, 10th)
HM – Regalus, Madi Davis (Fort Scott, 10th)

3D
1st – Natures Beating Heart, Melinzie Barnett (Prairie View, 11th)
2nd – Basking on a Lilly Pad, Justice Hopper (Prairie View, 12th)
3rd – Roadrunner @ Midnight, Ella Steinle (Prairie View, 11th)
HM – The Traveler, Justice Hopper (Prairie View, 12th)
HM – Featherly Kimberly, Alleigh Sue (Chanute, 12th)

Photography
1st – Flowers in Spiral, Kadence Riddle (Oswego, 10th)
2nd – The Last Breath, Amaris Murillo (Prairie View, 11th)
3rd – Clown Town, Taibai Kaney (Fort Scott, 10th)
HM – Here Kitty Kitty, Katie Martin (Uniontown, 10th)
HM – Alone & on Another Planet, Rylee Davis (Prairie View, 12th)

Miscellaneous Art
1st – Wearing the Addiction, Bella Stolle (Prairie View, 12th)
2nd – Squirrel, Klara Stock (Uniontown, 11th)
3rd – Butterscotch Cardigan, Zafirah Faji (Marmaton Valley, 11th)
HM – The Game, Kyler Nalley (Neodesha, 11th)
HM – Embroidery Landscape, Zafirah Faji (Marmaton Valley, 11th)

Best of Show
Natures Beating Heart, Melinzie Barnett (Prairie View, 11th)

This annual event continues to be a celebration of young artistic talent, fostering both creativity and community. Labette Community College remains committed to supporting the arts and providing a platform for aspiring artists to share their work, gain constructive feedback, and explore new creative possibilities. As the competition grows each year, LCC looks forward to encouraging even more students to pursue their artistic passions.