NORWICH – The Chenango Arts Council hosted the 2019 Chenango Area Student Art Show (CASA), Lucy Funke and Chenango Music Scholarship awards ceremony on Friday, April 5.

The Lucy Funke Scholarship, named in honor of Mrs. Lucy Funke, longtime executive director responsible for the success and stature of the Chenango Arts Council as it’s known in the community today, awards two $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in Chenango County based on merit and pursuit of the arts as a career through higher education.

New this year, The Arts Council also awarded one $1000 scholarship to a Chenango County high school senior who intends to go on to study music in college.

“Generating interest in the lifelong pursuit of the arts from early adulthood onward is one of the cornerstones of the CAC's mission,” said Arts Council executive director Alecia ONeill. “Whether we're hosting a reception for one of our artists-members, local students, or artists from out-of-town, public participation and community appreciation at gallery receptions are significant in galvanizing the culture of creativity in Chenango County. It's through exposure to the arts and art education that students discover their talent; CASA is simply the stage for them to express their passion.”

ONeill also noted that the annual scholarships programs through the CAC are intended to assist high school seniors enrolling in a program of study within the arts and who have long-term goals of joining the arts workforce.

“The Lucy Funke Scholarships are meant to reinforce the notion that students can obtain gainful employment within the arts field after high school,” said ONeill. “The disciplines of design and commercial art processes are essential in many industries; community support has allowed us to award these scholarships annually. We are also very excited to offer the new Chenango County Music Scholarship. There are so many opportunities in the arts, we want to encourage students to pursue every avenue available to them.”

Winners were also announced in 5 categories, mixed media, painting, photography, drawing and 3-D art in the Chenango Area Student Art Exhibition, which recognizes talent from across Chenango County's seven school districts.

The Complete Winner’s List is as follows:

Lucy Funke Scholarship: Riley Webster of Sherburne Earlville, Andrea Dempsey of Oxford Academy.

Chenango Music Scholarship: Matthew Ryan of Sherburne-Earlville

CASA Student Art Show

Best In Show: Riley Webster of Sherburne-Earlville. Teacher: Ms. Olive

Drawing: 1st Place: Guin Warren of Norwich, Teacher: Mr. Franklin. 2nd Place: Katherine Backman of Gilbertsville- Mt. Upton, Teacher: Ms. Theis

Honorable Mention: Savia Boyer of Norwich, Teacher: Mr. Franklin

Honorable Mention: Raven Rivenburge of Sherburne-Earlville Teacher: Ms. Olive

Painting

1st Place: Ashley Spoone of, Afton, Teacher: Mr. Higby

2nd Place: Lauren Squires of Norwich, Teacher: Mr. Franklin

Honorable Mention: Abi Natoli of Norwich, Teacher: Mr. Franklin

Honorable Mention: Gillian Mulder of Oxford, Teacher: Ms. Eaton

Mixed Media

1st Place: Samantha Emerson of Oxford, Teacher: Ms. Eaton

2nd Place: Romeo Rapp, Sherburne-Earlville Teacher: Ms. Olive

Honorable Mention: Katelyn Vanderwal of Sherburne-Earlville, Teacher: Ms. Olive

3-D

1st Place: Shanee Baker Bush of Oxford, Teacher: Ms. Eaton

2nd Place: Bailey Lagoe of Sherburne-Earlville, Teacher: Ms. Olive

Honorable Mention: Skyler Hoag of Norwich, Teacher: Mr. Franklin

Honorable Mention: Donavan Mullins of Norwich, Teacher: Mr. Franklin

Photography

1st Place: Madisyn Stowell of Sherburne-Earlville, Teacher: Mr. Newman

2nd Place: Willow Austin of Sherburne-Earlville, Teacher: Mr. Newman

Honorable Mention: Willow Austin of Sherburne-Earlville, Teacher: Mr. Newman

All eligible pieces will be entered in Congressman Anthony Brindisi’s Congressional Art Show in Utica, NY, where the winning entry will have a chance to be displayed in Washington D.C. for a year.

Pictured: The Chenango Arts Council announced the recipients of the Lucy Funke and Chenango Music Scholarships during the Chenango Area Student Art Show (CASA) on Friday, April 5. Chenango Music Scholarship recipient Matthew Ryan of Sherburne-Earlville, Lucy Funke Scholarship recipient Riley Webster of Sherburne-Earlville, and Lucy Funke Scholarship recipient Andrea Dempsey are pictured here. (Submitted photos)