Celebrate The West

The Western Governors’ Foundation is excited to announce the winners in the fifth annual Celebrate the West regional art competition, which challenged high school students to create two-dimensional artwork inspired by their state.

More than 250 works of art from the 17 WGA member states, as well as Guam, were entered in the competition sponsored by the Western Governors’ Foundation.

Paloma Link of Idaho won first place for the acrylic painting, Boise River in Spring.

Morgan Niemiller of North Dakota earned second place for her colored pencil drawing, As Long as the Sun Would Shine.

The Western Governors’ Foundation also announced the first recipient of its Chairman’s Award for Outstanding High School Art Teacher: Cameron Brown from Beulah High School in Beulah, North Dakota. Learn more.

You can see all the winning works in the slideshow below, as well as a complete list of state Finalists.

Celebrate the West® is a registered trademark of the Western Governors’ Association.

Here are the state Finalists in the fifth annual Celebrate the West competition:

• Alaska: Abby Carothers, Chugiak High School- in Anchorage, Land of the Midnight Sun, marker and colored pencil
• Arizona: Sahitha Vuddagiri, Basis Chandler, Stand Strong, acrylic and oil paint
• California: Grace Kim, Notre Dame Academy, California Dreamin', colored pencils and markers
• Colorado: Gace Holmes, Grandview High School, The Essence of Colorado, acrylic paint
• Guam: Antonelli Q. Salayon, Simon A. Sanchez, Kulu, colored pencil
• Hawaii: Avianna Morales, Kapolei High School, Rainbow Wahine, markers, acrylic paint, oil pastels, and colored pencils
• Idaho: Paloma Link, Boise High School, Boise River in Spring, acrylic paint
• Kansas: Katelyn Huddle, Elyria Christian School, Simple Pleasures, graphite pencil
• Montana: Audrey Rogge, Helena High School, Recognized, charcoal, graphite, and pen
• Nevada: Summer Sekula, Arbor View High School, Origins, pen and ink
• New Mexico: Jada Salcido, Cibola High School, New Mexican Indian, pencil, oil pastel
• North Dakota: Morgan Niemiller, Oak Grove Lutheran High School, As Long as the Sun Would Shine, colored pencil
• Oklahoma: Brock Bailey, Homeschool, Steaming Through the Prairie Sunset, pastels and colored pencils
• Oregon: Claire Bokovoy, Hood River Valley High School, Tranquil Lost Lake, acrylic paint
• South Dakota: Brianna Sandvig, Harrisburg High School, Weathered Beauty, acrylic paint
• Utah: Jane Wilson, Springville High School, An Undiscovered View, oil paint
• Washington: Oliver Rinne, Sedro-Woolley High School, Cobain, acrylic paint
• Wyoming: Li Platz, Lander High School, Guardians of the West, watercolor, pen and ink