Whitko artists sweep the Lakes and Streams Contest

Golden Silence by freshman Breawynn Neer
Golden Silence, by freshman Breawynn Neer
Steady through the Seasons by senior Hannah Moore
Steady through the Seasons, by senior Hannah Moore
Where the Cattails Grow by freshman Kate Long
Where the Cattails Grow, by freshman Kate Long
Spring Beauty by senior Alena Hindbaugh
Spring Beauty, by senior Alena Hindbaugh
Hello Camera by freshman Elyse Engle
Hello Camera, by freshman Elyse Engle

The Whitko High School art students recently competed in the Kosciusko County Lakes and Streams 17th Annual Student Art Contest.  

Whitko Art students received five out of the possible six awards in their grade categories, receiving $375 in total student prize money. Kate Long and Hannah Moore received first place recognitions; Breawynn Neer, second place and Elyse Engle and Alena Hindbaugh, third place awards.

Whitko High School art teacher, Daniel Malicki, said he is proud of all his students’ excellent results year after year in this contest. Malicki said “having success is hard to do, having continuous success is even harder”.

Each year, the Lilly Center Art Contest invites fourth through 12th grade students from Kosciusko County schools to submit their creative depiction of our local waterways. 

This program is designed to raise awareness and appreciation for Kosciusko County waters through artistic expression. The theme for this year’s contest was “Water Through the Seasons.” 

Artists with winning entries receive cash prizes and their artwork will be on display in The Alley, Warsaw. The artwork also is featured on greeting cards this year.  The pieces were evaluated by a panel of judges from Grace College Art Department. Criteria for judging was based on creativity, artistic merit, compatibility of any wildlife with its habitat, and depiction of the theme.  

Winners were selected in each of the following categories: fourth through sixth grade, seventh and eighth grade, freshman and sophomore and junior and senior.  There were first, second and third place prizes in each of the four grade categories: $100 for first, $75 for second, and $50 for third.  

This concludes the 2025-26 school year of art contests for the Whitko Junior Senior  High School students. The students were recognized with four international awards – a bronze medal and three medals of excellence; national level – three pieces judged as gold keys; regionally – 20 awards: three gold keys, nine silver keys, eight honorable mentions and one Outstanding Educator Award; four state awards – 20 finalists earning one first places and three honorable mentions of eight possible awards and five county awards (out of six possible) – two first, one second and 2 third place awards.