Evelyn displaying her artwork and a trophy

On May 2, selected students from St. Francis High School (SFHS) had an opportunity to attend the Mississippi 8 Conference Visual Arts Festival at Becker High School. At the event, SFHS senior Evelyn Kelly won the People's Choice award for her oil painting of a ship at sea.

Students' artwork was selected by the three visual arts SFHS teachers based on artwork completed in classes this school year.

The Festival: Each year the conference hosts a festival to showcase the top 18 pieces of artwork from each of the respective Mississippi 8 schools. After respective schools drop off and set up all their work at the host site, five judges come in to review the artwork and score individual pieces based on MSHSL based criteria, as well as the student's written artist statement about their work.

The Rankings: Students can receive the following ratings: Superior, Excellent, or Honorable Mention. On top of these awards there are also five “Judge's Choice" awards given out and one "People's Choice" award from all of the attendees that vote the day of the event.

Art Olympics: This year, Becker High School also decided to introduce a fun, collaborative event called the "Art Olympics" for all students from each school to participate in. The Art Olympic events included different art activities set up around the gym and each school competed against each other in the various 13 different art events to earn points for their respective schools. SFHS tied for 2nd place. View photos from the Festival.

Here are the results from this year's SFHS students that participated in the Mississippi 8 Art Festival:

  • People's Choice: Evelyn Kelly (Painting)

  • Aidan Breiwick (Drawing) - Superior Rating

  • Tabitha Betterman (Drawing) - Superior Rating

  • Bri Thomalla (Drawing) - Excellent Rating

  • Evelyn Kelly (Painting) - Superior Rating

  • Clara Walker (Painting) - Superior Rating

  • Lillias Savageau (Painting) - Excellent Rating

  • Damiean Firkus (Sculpture) - Excellent Rating

  • Jillian Coleman (Digital Photography) - Superior Rating

  • Tone Vinnikov (Digital Photography) - Honorable Mention Rating

  • Aubrie Dvorak (Computer Based-Artwork) - Superior Rating

  • Max Hoff (Computer Based-Artwork) - Superior Rating

  • Jazy Thepmontry (Computer Based-Artwork) - Superior Rating

  • Liia Minina (Computer Based-Artwork) - Excellent Rating

  • Daisy Vang (Computer Based-Artwork) - Excellent Rating

  • Clara Barth (Ceramics) - Superior Rating

  • Emma Lindstrom (Ceramics) - Superior Rating

  • Nolan Rosas (Ceramics) - Superior Rating

  • Quinn Lemke (Ceramics) - Excellent Rating

  • Ruby Loosmore (Ceramics) - Excellent Rating

  • Daisy Martinson (Ceramics) - Excellent Rating