Students from Chicago Heights School District 170 were recognized for their efforts and performances during the South Suburban Junior High School Association (SSJHSA) Fine Arts Festival held recently at Washington-McKinley School.
In the Art Show competition, SD170 place winners included Jaidy Boyo (1st Place and Best in Show – the district's first ever Best in Show title), Ana Herrera (2nd Place), and Aimee Garcia (3rd Place). Boyo and Melanie Navarro collaborated on a piece that earned an Instructor's Choice award.
All of the award-winning pieces were paintings with the exception of Herrera's piece which was in colored pencil.
The judging for individual and Instructor's Choice placings were District 170 generated acknowledgments, while the Best in Show was chosen from amongst entries representing all of the that districts that submitted entries for exhibition.
"We had a hard-working, talented group of students in our district Art Club this year and we are so proud of, not only our award winners, but also all the students who worked so very hard to make this year a success," Art teacher Michelle Brosius said
Students who performed as part of the District 170 Voices United Choir and who received Excellent ratings for their performances included Ciara Campbell, Antonio Del-Angel, Ashli Dodson, Makayla Edwards, Cheyenne Goings, Mariah Hutton, MyKayla Mays, Eliana Puente, Layla Ramirez, Laila Sain, Savannah Speed, and Jazelle Villarreal.
"Hosting the Fine Arts Festival was exciting!" noted Choir Director James Rahtjen. "There were nine choirs that performed, made up of over 460 students. Every choir sang with confidence and precision."
"The District 170 Voices United choir might have been smaller in number than the other choirs, but they were mighty in spirit and I was so proud of their performance and their representation of our district," he concluded.
The festival marked the tenth year that School District 170 hosted the event consisting of choral performances and a visual arts exhibition for students in grades six through eight from various south suburban school districts.