In partnership with Forsyth County high schools and Windsor Jewelers, The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is proud to present the Student Artist of the Month.
All Forsyth County high schools (private, public, and charter) that have arts programming were invited to participate in the Student Artist of the Month program. Arts educators and administrators from each school will select one student each month for recognition based on academic rigor and artistic merit. A variety of arts disciplines will be recognized over the course of the school year.
Taylor Fernald
Atkins Academic & Technology High School
Principal: Joe Childers
SAM Coordinator: Janet Blakely
Nominating Teacher: Lauren Gliot
Arts Discipline: Theatre Arts
Grade: 11
GPA/QPA: 3.8
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I enjoy working/performing with other students.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I would like to attend NC State and major in Computer Programming.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My Fall Showcase performance, “Robotic Love”.
How will the arts influence your future career? Performing in theater has greatly improved my communication skills.
Jefferson Bercaw
Bishop McGuinness High School
Principal: Tracy Shaw
Nominating Teacher: Alan Hirsh
Arts Discipline: Music
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 4.66
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I enjoy the puzzle-aspect of music. Each song is a puzzle with melodies and harmonies that must accord with the selected chord progressions. I love to derive these progressions and craft melodies to fit them.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment is the expansive list of instruments I’ve been able to learn and come to enjoy. I started with the piano in Kindergarten and continued to learn the clarinet, bass clarinet, guitar, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, and yes, even the ukulele.
How will the arts influence your future career? Music will provide a lifelong development of my creativity, which is vital for the success of an engineer. It will also provide an outlet where I can look forward to releasing stress and having a great time.
Shelby Mozingo
Calvary Day School
Principal: Rick Bohner
SAM Coordinator: Vera Boston
Nominating Teacher: Elisa Hurst
Arts Discipline: Photography
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 5.57
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite thing about photography is that it enables you to take the beauty and uniqueness of your surroundings and put them into a physical image that can be shared with others. Photography allows ordinary people to capture extraordinary things.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I hope to attend Clemson University to study biochemistry. In the future, I plan to pursue a career in the medical field.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? Some of my photos were submitted to the Dixie Classic Fair in the fall. Also, I have been taking senior photos for many of my friends which has been a lot of fun and has helped me build a portfolio.
How will the arts influence your future career? I hope to keep photography as a hobby. I would like to continue to increase my knowledge and develop my personal style while in college.
Anesha Sinclair
Carver High School
Principal: Carol Montague-Davis
SAM Coordinator: Julia Puckett
Nominating Teacher: Danielle Kinne
Arts Discipline: Dance
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 2.9
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite part of dance is that it isall about being creative and that there is no limit to what can be created.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? North Carolina Central University, and I want to major in Criminal Law.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My dance technique has gotten better this year and I am dancing with persicion and depth. I have a better understanding of how to perform and what it means to really express my ideas and thoughts through movement.
How will the arts influence your future career? I have learned a lot about how to collaborate, communicate and approach difficult problems with a creative mind.
Julie Marker
East Forsyth High School
Principal: Rodney Bass
SAM Coordinator: Roman Brady
Nominating Teacher: Terri Hester
Arts Discipline: Visual Arts
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 4.7917
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I just enjoy being able to take an image from my mind and share it with others.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? UNC Wilmington, majoring in Marine Biology.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? The fact that I’ve been able to advance my skills this far, and hopefully they will continue to develop.
How will the arts influence your future career? They will allow me to see things from a creative standpoint, and I will be able to use my skills to further a cause related to Marine Biology.
Christopher Atala
Forsyth Country Day
Head of School: Gardner Barrier
SAM Coordinator: John Kildahl
Nominating Teacher: Terry Hicks
Arts Discipline: Choral Music
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 3.957
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite part of Choral Music or Choir is the way which multiple voices intertwine to create a harmonious expression of emotion.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I would like to attend Wake Forest University, and Chemistry and Computer Science are both possible choices of major.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? Being selected for participation in the North Carolina High School Honors Chorus has been my most memorable artistic accomplishment.
How will the arts influence your future career? The arts will influence my future career by providing an environment of community through which I can relax and refocus; music fuels creativity in other areas of my life.
Sarah Buff
Glenn High School
Principal: Brad Craddock
SAM Coordinator: Jonathan Miller
Nominating Teacher: Allison Dawkins
Arts Discipline: Dance, Theatre
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 4.0
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? Being able to express myself and my emotions through movement and connecting with others who enjoy doing the same.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I would most like to attend college at Appalachian State University. I am choosing to major in either Dance studies or forensic science.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? Becoming Captain of the Bobcat Dance Team my senior year.
How will the arts influence your future career? If I choose to major in Dance studies, I hope that will lead me to becoming a dance teacher at a high school or a college.
Bianca Pender
Kennedy High School
Principal: Keisha Gabriel
SAM Coordinator: Kaitlin Bryant
Nominating Teacher: Kaitlyn Bryant
Arts Discipline: Visual Art
Grade: 11
GPA/QPA: 3.5
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite part of visual arts would be that it brings new ideas into focus, it embodies emotions that may or may not trigger a feeling in a person, and because art has the unique ability to transcend time.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? The Philadelphia Academy for Makeup and Special Effects. Special effects makeup.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? Creating art that has emotional construct that people are able to appreciate.
How will the arts influence your future career? The arts will influence my future career heavily as I am a visual artist that utilizes body art since I hope to become a professional special effects makeup artist or body painter.
Giselle Gonzalez-Garcia
Mount Tabor High School
Principal: Ed Weiss
Nominating Teacher: Alice Morley
Arts Discipline: Visual Art
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 3.6
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I really love that there is no right or wrong when it comes to art. You can just be creative.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I hope to attend Queens University of Charlotte to major in Graphic Design.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? Last year I was honored and proud to be an honorable mention in the Scholastics.
How will the arts influence your future career? I plan to have a career in graphic design, where I would use my art skills and creativity everyday.
Maria P. Granados
North Forsyth High School
Principal: Melita Wise
SAM Coordinator: Carolina Corona
Nominating Teacher: Erin Roberts
Arts Discipline: Dance
Grade: 10
GPA/QPA: 4.0
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite part of the dance discipline is being able to express myself through movements and show others the hard work and dedication we have to put into the dance. Also, the adrenaline feeling when I’m performing .
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I’m planning to attend either Salem College or UNCG and pursue a major in International Business.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My proudest artistic accomplishment so far is being able to participate twice in the dance concert. Additionally, improving my dance techniques, flexibility, and balance .
How will the arts influence your future career? Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Ruth St. Denis, Josephine Baker and all these powerful women totally inspire me. The fact they were able to leave their print in the world even in a time where women were discriminated makes me believe everything is possible if you make an effort. They set an example for all young ladies and women in the world, including me. I want to be different and reach my goals. Sometimes you need to stand out of the pile, make some changes, work hard for what you want and I think that’s definitely something that will influence my future career .
Zayne Tolentino
Parkland High Schools
Principal: Spencer Hardy
SAM Coordinator: Tara Hauser
Nominating Teacher: Nina Anderson
Arts Discipline: Visual Art
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 4.2
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I love the creativity and freedom of the class and the different kinds of art thought.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I will most likely go to UNCG, possibly majoring in biochemistry.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? I always had trouble with color and when I got watercolor color pencils. I practiced relentlessly and I became happy with all the work I put in them.
How will the arts influence your future career? The arts have always helped my mind unwind and distress, which would be very helpful in a work intensive job in the medical field.
Stephanie Erhart
Reagan High School
Principal: Brad Royal
SAM Coordinator: Jennifer Willard
Nominating Teacher: Robert Johnston
Arts Discipline: Trumpet/Band
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 5.083
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite part of my genre is being abe to perform with honor bands because they’re a lot of fun and also educational at the same time. I also love that my instrument allows me to be diverse in the types of ensembles I can participate in.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I would most like to attend college at the University of Toronto, with plans to major in applied mathematics with a concentration in epidemiology.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My proudest artistic accomplishment is being selected to perform in the NC All State Orchestra. It was a wonderful experience to be able to work with so many talented students from all across the state.
How will the arts influence your future career? I can’t say if the arts will necessarily influence my career, however all these years have taught me many important skills such as discipline, dedication, persistence, and many more. Music is definitely something that will always be important to me, regardless of my career.
Yurri Urrutia
Reynolds High School
Principal: Leslie Alexander
SAM Coordinator: Karen Morris
Nominating Teacher: Margaret Rehder
Arts Discipline: Violin/Piano
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 4.42
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite part of the arts genre I was nominated for (primarily Piano), would be the large selection of repertoire available for its discipline. As a soloist, I’m not constricted to one musical genre but instead have a wide array of music to choose from, stretching from the Baroque period all the way to the Romantic era and some 21st century music; each with their own difficulties and opportunities for growth.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I would most like to attend college at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where I would major in piano performance. My current teacher is a Professor at the conservatory and I would like to remain under his guidance to build a stronger foundation as a pianist. I’d be immersed amongst other talented individuals where the piano department’s competitiveness will help in expanding my growth.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My greatest artistic accomplishment would definitely be the instance where my piano instructor forgave me for the previous comments and judgment he made when I first auditioned to play under his guidance. Having started to play the piano at sixteen years of age, Dr. Shteinberg deemed it impossible for me to pursue a career as a pianist and for my own sake, to disregard such fantasies. Though it was devastating at the time, it motivated me to try even harder. Eventually, at around a year being mentored by him, he told me of how wrong he was. He was astonished at how much we’ve covered and progressed for such a small amount of time and was anxious to see the type of pianist i’d become in a few years time.
How will the arts influence your future career? The arts will always be a part of not only my future career, but also a very important aspect of my life. Whether I make it as a concert pianist or become a piano professor at a music conservatory, I will continue to spread my knowledge with the instrument and teach growing pianists not only to play, but also to value and appreciation the music which they’re playing.
Ana Grace Sapp
Salem Academy
Head of School: Mary Lorick Thompson
SAM Coordinator: Maria Robinson
Nominating Teacher: Maria Robinson
Arts Discipline: Visual Arts
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 3.69
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? Although I paint, sculpt, and draw, I have recently spent my artistic time in the area of photography. For me, photography brings together both my creative and scientific sides into one endeavor. My favorite subject is wildlife, and I try to capture powerful images which will, in turn, motivate viewers to value the conservation and preservation of our natural resources, including wildlife. Recently, a collection of my wildlife and landscape photographs was exhibited at Hanging Rock State Park.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I have applied to a number of our in-state universities, as well as to colleges which focus solely on the environmental sciences, including SUNY Environmental Sciences/Forestry. It is my plan to study wildlife biology/conservation, but at the same time continue to develop my photography skills, combining my interests in science with my passion for the power of the photographic image.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? After studying conservation photography last summer in Ecuador, I was invited, along with four high-school students, to present the photography from our summer workshop at the International League of Conservation Photographers’ annual conference, Wild Speak. Held at the Carnegie Institute for Science in Washington D.C., the conference featured a number of talented conservation photographers and their work; a number of them had even been featured in National Geographic. To be included among these accomplished professionals at this conference is one of my proudest moments. This experience also shaped my vision of how I can combine science and art into a career of conservation advocacy.
How will the arts influence your future career? The powerful and creative images of nature, as expressed through photography, have the potential to influence the dialogue on preservation and conservation of our natural world. It is my dream to use photography, both my technical skills and artistic eye, to foster conservation. In fact, I hope to be a conservation photographer, using both my scientific knowledge and my photographic skills in a career of travel, research, and documentation of the world’s endangered resources, specifically wildlife.
Maleek Slade
UNCSA
Dean: Brian Cole
SAM Coordinator: Brock Snyder
Nominating Teacher: Kelly Maxner
Arts Discipline: Drama
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 3.51
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite part of Drama is the recreation of life, and the power of storytelling that comes with it.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I would actually like to attend UNCSA again.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My proudest artistic accomplishment would have to be collaborating witty contemporary dance majors on incredible pieces in this years Fall Dance.
How will the arts influence your future career? I want to pursue a professional career in acting and theater, so arts, and attending an arts conservatory this year has been even more of a huge influence in discovering what I want to do in the future as well as providing countless opportunities.
Jasmin Ashford
Walkertown High School
Principal: Misty Walker
SAM Coordinator: Quincy Lundy
Nominating Teacher: Krista N. Justice
Arts Discipline: Dance
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 4.45
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite part of taking dance is getting to participate in the Winter and Spring Dance Concerts. I enjoy this part of class, because my classmates and I have the opportunity to showcase our hardwork over the semester. My favorite style of dance, in the concerts, would be contemporary, because I prefer doing emotionally connected movements that fit the message of the song; however, jazz is a close second preference, due to the fact that my dramatic personality can shine.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I will be attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the fall of 2018 to major in pre-medicine.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? Artist of the Month two years in a row. It tells me that I am meeting the goals expected of me and that my teacher notices my hard work ethic.
How will the arts influence your future career? The arts will influence my future for the better, because I will not only have knowledge of the dancers who paved the way for me, but I will feel comfortable, prepared, and confident if I ever decide to attend adult dance classes or try out for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Dance Team.
Samantha Graham
West Forsyth High School
Principal: Charles McAninich
Nominating Teacher: Nathan Newsome
Arts Discipline: Visual Art
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 3.7/4.37
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? Creating high contrast with vibrant colors and value change. I love expressing my emotions through colors and type of brush strokes.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I will most likely attend a four year Universtiy and earn a masters degree in Speech Pathology.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? Being able to express my emotions through color and values. My charcoal works express more extreme emotions and my painting express joyful moments in life.
How will the arts influence your future career? I would love contine art throughout my life to help share emotions and feeling to others. Even though I do not want to have a career in art, I would love to continue art as a side job.
Faith Faircloth
Winston-Salem Christian School
Head of School: Bryan Wolfe
Principal: Isaac Deaton
Nominating Teacher: Amanda Redmon
Arts Discipline: Visual Arts
Grade: 10
GPA/QPA: 2.6
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I love to express myself and adding pops of color to everything I do.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I would love to attend UNC School of the Arts. I would major in animation.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? I think my proudest artistic accomplishment is a portrait I drew of a girl with an octopus in her mouth. It was a unique, fun project.
How will the arts influence your future career? I would like to be an animator, so hopefully the arts will be very influential!.
The Arts Council would like to thank music teacher, Danny Green, who not only initiated the Student Artist of the Month program, but is serving as the volunteer liaison between the Arts Council and the schools for this project.
If you have questions or comments about this program, please contact us.
Danny Green, Student Artist of the Month Program Coordinator: sam.wsfchs@gmail.com