Painting, sculpture, more: The Tennessean Student of the Week is all about art. Vote now


The Tennessean Student of the Week is back.

As students and teachers return to their classrooms across Middle Tennessee after fall break, we asked principals, teachers and guidance counselors to send us their nominations for most creative student in the lead up to Halloween.

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They responded with 12 students.

Now, it’s your turn to decide who comes out on top by casting votes in our online poll before noon on Thursday, Oct. 31.

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More: Lebanon High’s Rachel Moscardelli wins loaded Tennessean Student of the Week drama field

From visual arts, literature and fashion to sculpture, photography and more, learn more about this week’s nominees and their outstanding academic excellence and school achievement before casting your vote at the bottom of this story:

Katherine Conatser: Montgomery Central High School

According to her teachers, Katherine Conatser is a dedicated student and mentor to others at Montgomery Central High School, part of the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in Cunningham, according to Visual Arts, AP Studio Art and Painting Teacher Lee Bergman.

Conatser currently has an overall GPA of 4.0 in her academics as a senior, has been a student in the art department for four years, has completed art one, two and three, painting and sculpture and is currently enrolled in Advanced Placement Studio Design.

“She always strives to challenge herself and takes creative risks that she doesn’t always feel comfortable doing, but she pushes herself to explore and experiment … something we don’t always see with students in our departments,” Bergman said.

Cooper Davis: Green Hill High School

Cooper Davis, a senior at Green Hill High School in Mt. Juliet, is an accomplished photographer, videographer, filmmaker and editor and possess incredible skill in the technical performing arts, Green Hill High School Counseling Secretary Amy Brewer said.

Davis excels in the audio-visual program as a senior at Green Hill High School, part of the Wilson County School District.

He spent the summer at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts, completing a program in Film Making.

“Cooper Davis is a remarkably talented student with a diverse portfolio of knowledge and ability,” Brewer said. “He is a masterful sound technician while running live sound, and an artistic lighting designer.”

Davis has worked sound and lights for the school marching band, theater program, dance program and many other applications.

In addition to his many talents, he’s also a talented musician and an active member of the Spirit of Green Hill Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and Winter Winds. 

“Above and beyond Coopers talent, he is a mature, caring and respectful leader,” Brewer said.

“He has served as Band Captain this year for the Spirit of Green Hill Marching Band and exemplifies the qualities of leadership, artistry and responsibility we look for in a student leader. Cooper is an inquisitive artist, who pursues knowledge and excellence in everything he does.”

Avery Hall: Wilson Central High School

Avery Hall is described as an incredible artist at Wilson Central High School, part of the Wilson County School District, in Lebanon.

Hall, an incredible stage manager and leader for the theatre department, has elevated the school’s shows serving as a scenic designer for the last two years, Wilson Central High School Principal Dr. Jennifer Ankney said.

Hall is a straight A student in the 11th grade, Ankney notes, and takes academically challenging classes.

Abby Hlynosky: Stewart County High School

Abby Hlynosky is talented not only in art but also music, Stewart County High School Principal and Athletic Director William Gray said.

After graduating from Stewart County High School, part of the Stewart County School District in Dover, Hlynosky plans to continue playing her instrument in community ensembles at her art school of choice.

Ellie Latham: Sycamore High School

Ellie Latham is an amazing visual artist, Sycamore High School Beth Waynick said, excelling in portraits (animals and people) and very detailed pencil work as a student at Sycamore High School, part of the Cheatham County School District, in Pleasant View.

Patricia Le: Central Magnet School

Throughout her high school career, Patricia Le has excelled in many art mediums as a student at Central Magnet School, part of the Rutherford County School District in Murfreesboro.

Le has attended the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts, assisted in a mural at Cedar Grove Brewery and has shown her work at Middle Tennessee State University and the Frist Art Museum.

After scoring a 5 on her Advanced Placement Portfolio as a Junior, she’s now enrolled in an upper-level sculpture class as a senior to further diversify her skill set, Central Magnet School Visual Art Danny Freeman said.

“She primarily works in oils and colored pencils and executes her work with next-level details and polish,” Freeman said.

Kelsey Prosch: Sycamore High School

Kelsey Prosch, a student at Sycamore High School, part of the Cheatham County School District in Pleasant View, is an incredibly talented artist, Sycamore High School Spanish Teacher Robert Skipper said, especially when it comes to drawing and “capturing the dynamic nature of people”.

Prosch is especially sensitive to perspective and how the viewer perceives her art, Skipper added.

“When viewing her drawings, one has the distinct awareness of the presence of her artistic subjects and easily becomes curious as to the underlying personal force behind them,” he said.

Neyshalee Ramirez Flores: Cane Ridge High School

Neyshalee Ramirez Flores is a senior and visual arts III student at Cane Ridge High School, part of the Metro Nashville Public School District in Antioch.

Her work is on display throughout Nashville, as her beautiful and creatively inspired designs have been chosen twice this year to become large scale group projects for her school and community, Cane Ridge High School Visual Arts I, II and III Teacher Larissa Ottinger said.

Earlier this year, Ramirez Flores led a group of students in creating a 7-foot-high scarecrow, which is currently on display at the school’s entrance.

“(It’s) designed to enchant with her corseted black dress, large black wings covered in feathers and gold head, held in her arms as a nod to the spookiness of the season,” Ottinger said.

Ramirez Flores once again led a team in the design of this year’s mural at Cheekwood Art and Gardens’ 25th annual El Dia de los Muertos event.

The design was voted on by her classmates as the chosen work to represent Cane Ridge at the event.

It features a contrasting live hand and skeleton hand, holding a book of memoirs, accompanied by gold lettering and original poetry written by one of her peers.

The mural can be viewed between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on November 2 and 3. Tickets are available to purchase online.

Isabella Robinson: Wilson Central High School

Isabella Robinson, a 12th grader at Wilson Central High School in Lebanon, serves as the Vice President of the school’s thespian society.

An active member of the school’s Trouveres competition group and Wildcat Theatre, Robinson is a great leader, kind, hardworking and has grown into an amazing student leader, Wilson Central High School Principal Dr. Jennifer Ankney said.

In addition to her creative side, she’s studious and takes all Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement courses.

“We are so proud of her,” Ankney said.

Addison Sher: Rossview High School

Addison Sher has left an impression on school officials as a senior at Rossview High School, part of the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in Clarksville.

She’s currently in her second year completing an Advanced Placement Studio Art portfolio.

“She is completing an AP drawing portfolio using digital drawing, and it is absolutely phenomenal,” Rossview High School Principal Dr. Meghen Sanders said.

In addition to being enrolled in Dual Enrollment Music Appreciation, Sher is also taking three more Dual Enrollment courses and an Advanced Placement class.

“Addison achieves academic success and completes her work to the highest of standards in all classes,” Sanders said.

She attended a two-week animation program at the Chicago Institute of Art over the summer and serves as the Vice President of the National Art Honor Society at her school.

Emily Williams: Sycamore High School

Emily Williams, a student at Sycamore High School, part of the Cheatham County School District, in Pleasant View, designs clothing and competes in state competitions.

Williams designs and makes an original piece each year and enters it into a fashion design event at the TSA state competition each year in Chattanooga, Sycamore High Tech Ed. Teacher John Staggs said.

Valorie Wilmore: Gallatin High School

Valorie Wilmore is a very imaginative artist who works with digital art and traditional media, school officials said, as a student at Gallatin High School, part of the Sumner County School District in Gallatin.

Wilmore has entered artwork into her school and community art shows, hoping one day to become an animation artist, Gallatin High School Art Teacher Catherine C. Stewart said.

She’s a master of drawing animals, Stewart said, and she even has her own comic book and animated series based on the various animal characters she’s created.

Each animal character has its own unique attributes and temperament.

“Valorie can be seen around school with her tablet, always creating and perfecting a new idea,” she said.

Katie Nixon can be reached at [email protected].


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