7 Governor’s School students recognized in YoungArts National Arts Competition


Seven students from the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville were selected as winners in the 2025 YoungArts National Arts Competition.

The annual competition recognizes promising young artists in classical music, dance, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing. Nearly 11,000 students ages 15 to 18 from around the county submitted applications in the 2025 competition.

The seven Governor’s School students awarded include:

  • Paige Dayton, film award winner
  • Stella Warren-Page, visual arts award winner
  • Dune Adams, fiction award winner
  • Jayden Benenhaley, nonfiction award winner
  • Tristyn Gibson, nonfiction award winner
  • Gus Messinides, nonfiction award winner
  • Anna Castro Spratt, fiction award winner with distinction

Each winner will receive cash prizes between $250 and $10,000 and the opportunity to learn from professional artists. They will also become part of an alumni network of over 22,000 artists.

“The impact of this award on 15- to 18-year-old artists will be felt for decades to come,” said YoungArts President Clive Chang.

Castro Spratt specifically received the YoungArts Award with Distinction and is invited to participate in National YoungArts Week in Miami in January 2025. She is also eligible to be nominated to become a U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, one of the highest honors bestowed by the president of the United States.

To learn more about the YoungArts National Arts Competition, visit youngarts.org/winners.

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