6/25/2009      Young Artists Awards Reception Held at YAM
City-Wide Students are Honored & Receive Cash Awards!

Soroptimist International of Billings is pleased to announce this year's 2009 recipients of their YOUNG ARTISTS AWARD PROGRAM. Judging was done by staff members of The Frame Hut.  Museum Co-Ordination was done by Linda Ewert, Education Director at YAM and over-saw the display of the Young Artists’ Show.  This year’s event commemorated the eighth year of the Young Artists’ Gallery at the Yellowstone Art Museum and the 13th year of the YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM.

Art teachers, from the Billings and surrounding area, are invited to submit pieces of student art, in any medium and theme, and the art winners are showcased at the Soroptimist charity fundraiser "A Night of Wine and Roses”. The upcoming event is scheduled for January 30, 2010, to be held at The Depot, and will be this event's 22nd year!

This year marks the fourth time for the $1,000 Scholarship Award, based on the student's essay, was awarded. This year's winner is Shayla Fiscus, Billings Senior High, her acrylic is titled "Creation".  This year's event marked the introduction of another cash award, Best of Show. Along the way Linda Ewert has been Soroptimists' advisor and champion for this Young Artists’ Program.  With her guidance this year we are adding the Soroptimist discretionary award “Best of Show”.  This artist will receive a $500.00 cash award and their art item will also be included in the silent auction at our fund raiser “A Night of Wine and Roses”.  To commemorate this “Best of Show” award it will be called the “Linda Ewert Best of Show Award”. The first student to be honored with this “Linda Ewert Best of Show Award” is Billings Senior High student Lacey Young who submitted a textured ceramic. Teacher's Award went to Nancy Petersen from Billings Senior High School.  First Place winner Nikki Derting received $500.00 with her acrylic titled "Sunny Side Up" attended Skyview High.  Second Place winner Ashley Virag received $250.00 with her untitled piece attended Laurel High School. Third Place winner Anthony Saur received $100.00 with his sterling silver and sapphire ring titled "Captured" attended Billings Senior High.  Honorable Mention went to Kristyna Sucha, a foreign exchange student from the Czech Republic who attended Laurel High School, submitted a collage titled "Hmmmmm".

Young Artist Winners 2009
◘ Scholarship Shayla Fiscus $1000.000
"Creation"
◘ Best of Show Lacey Young $500.00
textured ceramic
◘ 1) Nikki Derting $500.00
"Sunny Side Up"
◘ 2) Ashley Virag $250.00
untitled
◘ 3)  Anthony Saur $100.00
"Captured"

Scholarship Shayla Fiscus $1000.000 "Creation"	Best of Show Lacey Young $500.00 textured ceramic	1) Nikki Derting $500.00 "Sunny Side Up"	2) Ashley Virag $250.00 untitled	3)  Anthony Saur $100.00 "Captured"