January 10, the artworks of several Hugoton Middle School art students were delivered for an upcoming competitive display at the Baker Arts Center in Liberal to compete in what is known as the Western Kansas Scholastics Art Competition. This is a state and national art competition open to all art students in grades seven through twelve offered yearly in southwest Kansas, with other regions including Wichita, Kansas City and other areas in Kansas. This competition also involves regions in all 50 states throughout the United States. This year Hugoton Middle School entered 13 artworks from several students enrolled in art this year. Student works – once delivered – are judged by an independent panel of art professors and professionals from area colleges and universities. Works are either accepted to be shown at the Baker Arts Center or rejected. Once students’ works are accepted, they compete for various awards. These awards are Bronze Key (honorable mention), Silver Key (second place level) and Gold Key (top level award), as well as several awards known as the “American Vision” Award, which is a select few from the show picked as Best of Show for all levels of competition. Out of the 13 works entered this year, ten were accepted from Hugoton’s middle school art department. These works will be displayed at the Baker Arts Center January 17 through February 22. At the end of the show, works receiving Gold Key designation or American Vision awards will go on to compete at the National Level in New York City in the spring. Works are digitally photographed and sent via online for competition. The national level awards are also called Bronze Key, Silver Key and Gold Key. Winners at this level are also up for rewards, such as having their art displayed in galleries nationwide and for national recognition in several professional art venues. This year’s Hugoton Middle School Scholastic Art Competition entrants and award winners are David Barker, Sculpture, HMS Scholastic Participant; Ethan Shopteese, Sculpture, HMS Scholastic Participant; Shelby Brechbuhler, Mixed Media Painting, Honorable Mention; Shelby Brechbuhler, Printmaking, Honorable Mention; Shelby Brechbuler, Sculpture, Silver Key; Kobe Lindstrom, Drawing, Silver Key; Brianna Mangels, Printmaking, Honorable Mention; Tiffany Mangels, Printmaking, Silver Key; Tiffany Mangels, Scratchboard Drawing, Silver Key; Brayden Moodie, Painting, Honorable Mention; Luis Ramos, Printmaking, Silver Key; and Kylee Garza, Painting, Gold Key. Kylee’s work will go on to compete at the National Scholastic Art Competition this spring in New York City as a result of receiving her Gold Key. “This was a big year in this competition for us at the HMS art department. The kids have put a lot of effort, time and consideration into their work this year, and the final product and our number of winners shows this. HMS is being represented in this competition very well, and this is one of the best showings we have had. The students of Hugoton continue to amaze me each year with their effort and creativity, their artistic endeavours are constantly the best I’ve ever seen each and every year. I am very happy with our performance this year and am anxious to show these students’ talents to the world. They have done an excellent job this year.” commented Mr. Terrill, Hugoton Middle School art instructor.