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.
Katherine Sturkie
Atkins Academic & Technology High School
Principal: Joe Childers
SAM Coordinator: Janet Blakely
Nominating Teacher: Janet Blakely
Arts Discipline: Visual Arts
Grade: 11
GPA/QPA: 4.0
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I like experimenting with different genres of art but watercolor is my favorite. I like the translucency of the colors and how freely and easily they move on the paper.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I don’t know where I want to go to college yet. I’m still looking around but I want to major in Biology or Animal Sciences.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? Having my piece be a part of the Art Showcase state champions team.
How will the arts influence your future career? The arts will always be important to me as a hobby and although I love creating art, I’m not considering a career in the arts. I want to be a veterinarian but I will continue to practice and create art in my free time.
Negar Jadidi
Calvary Day School
Principal: Rick Bohner
SAM Coordinator: Vera Boston
Nominating Teacher: Patsy Chesnut
Arts Discipline: Photography
Grade: 11
GPA/QPA: 3.8
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite part of chorus is getting to also act and be involved in theatre alongside of it. Also, I love being with other singers who have the same passion as me.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I would like to attend an Ivy League college and although not completely decided, I might major in International Relations or Government.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? I love leading fellow younger singers and encourage them to be their best version, just like older singers who mentored me.
How will the arts influence your future career? I hope to minor in musical theater in the future if possible. Music will always be a visible part of my life even if I pursue something completely different.
Jesse Wolfe
Career Center
Principal: Chris Nichols
Nominating Teacher: Kathleen Castleberry
Arts Discipline: Photography
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 4.67
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite part of photography is nature photography. I also enjoy being able to use the images I take to express myself and evoke emotions in others.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I have been accepted into Rochester Institute of Technology, Ithaca College, Ohio University, and Appalachian State University. I will major in photojournalism.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My proudest artistic accomplishment was my first photography exhibit. After months of preparation, I was ecstatic to see it all come together. I was proud of the money I was able to raise through my photographs to give back to local nonprofits.
How will the arts influence your future career? I plan on pursuing a career in photojournalism. The arts will influence the creative aspects of my career and inspire me to creatively tell stories.
Ash Huggins
Forsyth Country Day
Head of School: Gardner Barrier
SAM Coordinator: John Kildahl
Nominating Teacher: Karen Dalton
Arts Discipline: Ceramics
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 4.27
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? My favorite part about ceramics is that I feel like ceramics, more than any other form of art, allows the artist to truly realize their vision and bring to life a physical representation of the concept in their head. For me, the three dimensional aspect of the genre lends itself to the corporeal manifestation of ideas or figures that would otherwise only exist in one’s imagination.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I will hopefully be attending Georgetown University in the fall, and I am intending to major in International Relations, specifically International History, with a concentration in Diplomacy as well as Justice and Peace Studies.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My proudest artistic accomplishment was the completion of a piece, an interpretation of Renaissance architecture, that I had struggled with. I had had difficulty with both the translation of the complex details that were indicative of the Classical style as well as the realization of my own vision and interpretation integrated with the traditional architecture. The completion of this piece helped me grow as an artist, as it taught me how to combine my own ideas with ideas conceived of both hundreds and thousands of years ago and how to blend them harmoniously.
How will the arts influence your future career? I believe that the arts, both performing and visual, will greatly contribute to my future life and career, because they provide invaluable skills and perspectives that cannot be gained elsewhere. Through performing arts, singing and acting, I have gained the skills of public speaking, as well as how to see others` perspectives by literally “putting myself in their shoes,” as it were. But perhaps the most important skill that I have learned through performing arts is the art of cooperation and the direction of group efforts towards a common goal. Whether in a chorus or a production, the end result is only reached by each person performing their role to the best of their ability. The perfect harmony or the perfect illusion of a story can only be reached if the group is in perfect sync, and I believe that this philosophy applies to life as well. And when everyone works together and plays their part, the result is extraordinary. Visual art has taught me the values of flexibility and resilience. One must overcome frustration and be flexible when creating a piece to turn mistakes into something great and resilient to continue working when it seems like nothing is working and it seems impossible to realize a vision. I believe that these values will be invaluable to me, and that the arts will influence my life because nothing can bring people together like art can.
Hallie Wolfe
Mount Tabor High School
Principal: Ed Weiss
Nominating Teacher: Barbara Trinh
Arts Discipline: Visual Arts
Grade: 11
GPA/QPA: 4.3
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I like the process of watching a project develop from it’s beginning stages of practice sketches to the final product.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? Probably UNC Chapel Hill or Elon; biology.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? I recently did a portrait of my grandmother from a picture I found of her as a young adult and it was special to be able to give it to her and see her reaction.
How will the arts influence your future career? I’m not sure whether or not my future job will have to do with art, but I will definitely continue doing visual arts projects for the rest of my life. The creativity of thinking outside-of-the-box that comes with art will be helpful to whatever career I end up going into.
Aaliyah Hairston
North Forsyth High School
Principal: Melita Wise
SAM Coordinator: Carolina Corona
Nominating Teacher: Helen Siglar
Arts Discipline: Chorus
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 3.38
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I have been singing since I was a little girl, so music so like my life source. My chorus class give me a sense of confidence because it’s so small, me and my classmates are really close and our teacher, Ms. Sigler really guides as far as learning how to sight read and giving me all the tools so that I can be successful in the music industry.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I want to attend Virginia State University and major in Business with a concentration in marketing, and I want to minor in Music Performance.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My biggest artistic accomplishment would be when I traveled to New York City for a summer enrichment program, I recorded my own cover of “Didtance” by Emily King, I would say it was the best recording I have ever made.
How will the arts influence your future career? The Arts will always be apart of my life. I can honestly say that it has made me the young woman I am today. Even though I don’t perform as much as I used to, I still feel that the arts is apart of my purpose. I can’t wait to go to college so that I can get involved in many different organizations and performing arts groups, and hopefully I will receive more opportunities that will excel me in the future.
Rebekah Smith
Reagan High School
Principal: Brad Royal
SAM Coordinator: Jennifer Willard
Nominating Teacher: Jenn Janus
Arts Discipline: Technical Theatre
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 4.625
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I appreciate watching my visions come to life as I build props and set pieces. It’s a wonderful feeling to see the images in my head come to life in the world.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I intend to attend Lander University majoring in Elementary Education. I’ve always had a heart for children and would love to become a teacher.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? I find little value in awards and contests, instead, I look upon how I’ve developed as an artist and as a person due to my passions as the mark of my achievements. This year, I’ve developed into a dedicated technical theatre student. I am very excited to currently hold the position of Assistant Director for our spring musical, The Little Mermaid. In the process of learning and developing into this role, I’ve pushed so many of my comfort zones, made so many friends, and found a passion that I never knew I had. For me, that would be my greatest artistic accomplishment.
How will the arts influence your future career? I hope incorporate creativity and curiosity into my classroom as much as possible as an educator. Having such an extensive history with the arts will greatly help the environment that I want to foster with my students. I want to present an atmosphere of welcome and inspiration, and I want to be as much of a patron of the arts as possible.
Vivien Rudisell
Salem Academy
Head of School: Mary Lorick Thompson
SAM Coordinator: Maria Robinson
Nominating Teacher: Kerry Lawson
Arts Discipline: Theatre
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 3.42
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I love to seeing a production that I’ve put hard work into (onstage or as part of a crew) come together at the end. It’s one of the most rewarding feelings in the world.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? While I’m not sure what school I like the most, I hope to study either History or English, in addition to Theatre.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? Having the role of Jane in Salem Academy’s production of “A Little Princess”. It was the first musical I have ever done, so it pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I had a lot of fun with it as well.
How will the arts influence your future career? I would very much like to have theatre as a part of my life in the future, whether that be professionally or recreationally. After shadowing a Theatre Arts professor as an intern this past January, I have considered teaching theatre as a career.
Emily Lin
UNCSA
Dean: Brian Cole
SAM Coordinator: Brock Snyder
Nominating Teacher: David Winkleman
Arts Discipline: Music/Violin
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 3.95
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I really enjoy attending weekly master class and having the opportunity to not only perform, but also learn from my professor and my violin studio.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I would like to pursue a major in violin performance at the New England Conservatory of Music.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? I have received a full scholarship from the Thomas S. Kenan Institute to attend the Aspen Music Festival this summer.
How will the arts influence your future career? I would like a career in music, whether it be as a teacher, orchestral or chamber musician, or soloist.
Stephen Osio
West Forsyth High School
Principal: Charles McAninich
Nominating Teacher: Rebecca Green
Arts Discipline: Violin/Flute
Grade: 12
GPA/QPA: 4.47
What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? Performing with whatever orchestra, marching, or concert band I’m with. Because, in a sort of stressful and exciting time in front of the crowd, I get to express an emotional connection with people I come to really respect and have fun with through all the months we spend in rehearsal.
Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I want to attend college at UNC Greensboro because I feel absolutely welcome and comfortable with the teachers and students there, and there is so much talent, intelligence, and experience that I’d love to learn from. Plus I could walk to my classes from my own dorm.
What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment is winning a Grand Champion place with the West Forsyth Marching Band in a competition against our school rivals, which made the big trophy a lot more rewarding.
How will the arts influence your future career? I want to become a professional composer for film and television and, I want to develop and teach orchestras in middle school and high school. But we’ll see how that turns out.
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