8 Hampton High School students win Pittsburgh Region Scholastic Art & Writing competition

Eight Hampton High School students won awards in the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing competition, Pittsburgh region.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards bills itself as the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. Teens in grades seven-12 (ages 13 and up) compete nationally and regionally in 28 categories of art and writing.

There were 13 winning submissions for art from Hampton School District, including multiple awards for some students. The winners are Anna Cutuli, Camryn Ferderbar, Madison Hurst, Fannie Ketler, Sierra Linke-Kohan, Ben Mikus, Paula Ott and Katie Pham.

Pham is Hampton’s gold key winner. The 17-year-old high school senior won with her watercolor “Hong Kong Streets.”

She created the work for a school assignment, having visited Hong Kong previously. “I wanted to do something representing the clutter — the cars, the street signs — of this really busy, nice place.”

When Pham submitted her entry, she didn’t expect to win.

Besides the excitement of the award, Pham wanted to dedicate her accomplishment to her mother, Karen Pham, who grew up in Hong Kong.

“I’m very proud and very amazed every time she does a piece,” Pham’s mother said. “The award will help lead her path.”

Mikus, 17, is one of two silver key winners from Hampton. His winning entry, “Vino Splash,” is a charcoal drawing of a wine glass with liquid that looks like a photograph. Mikus was inspired by the movement of water and its reflection, said his mother, Julie Mikus.

Ben Mikus creates in a variety of mediums including photography, sketching, painting and 3D technology, his mother said.

“Since Ben was a little boy he has taken our breath away with his artistic abilities,” she said. “It’s my hope he will use this gift not only as a creative outlet but to inspire other people.”

Ben said he enjoys the freedom of creating his artwork. “That freedom to express is what I appreciate. I like it when I can make ideas come to life,” he said.

Ben and another Hampton student, Marisa Vizocca, will exhibit their artwork on May 21 at the Ketchup City Creative gallery in Sharpsburg.

The awards ceremony will be held at Seneca Valley Senior High School on March 19.