PETOSKEY — The Crooked Tree Arts Center wrapped up its Youth Arts Festival in April, recognizing many local students during the Youth Art Show, the Young Writers Exposition and the awards ceremony.
The awards ceremony, held April 17, marked the conclusion of the annual showcase of student creativity in visual arts, writing and performance. The awards recognized students across multiple disciplines, with 40 prizes and honorable mentions, special recognition for 21 dancers from the CTAC School of Ballet and the announcement of the CTAC Youth Arts College Scholarship recipients, according to a release from the arts center.
The evening included crowd-funded cash prizes for artwork, as well as awards and scholarships presented in partnership with institutions and organizations such as the STAMPS School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan, Kendall College of Art and Design, Good Hart Artist Residency, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, Stories Told and the Harriet Lee Hicklen Memorial Scholarship for Dance, among others.
“The Youth Art Show and awards night are among the most joyful events of the year. We are so delighted to celebrate with our community,” Sheila Ruen, visual arts director at CTAC, said in the release. “Every year, the Youth Arts Festival reminds us of the extraordinary depth and diversity of talent found in Northern Michigan’s young artists. The creativity, insight and technical skill on display is a true testament to the strength of arts education and the dedication of our regional educators and families.”
The evening also included the announcement of CTAC’s 2025 Petoskey Youth Arts College Scholarship recipient, Amelie Hanson. Petoskey High School’s Hanson will be attending Grand Valley State University on scholarship in the fall, pursuing her BFA in dance.
“Events like the Youth Arts Awards really show the important role art plays in helping young people engage with the world around them — to process, reflect and imagine new possibilities,” CTAC President Angela Morris said in the release. “Our Youth Arts Festival is more than a celebration — it’s a reminder of why supporting community arts matters and ensures future generations have the space to explore and express their creativity.”
The CTAC Youth Art Show award winners included: Ariahna Kantola (first place), Oliver Janka (second place), Lydia Goldsborough (third place), Izzy Ulrich (outstanding mixed media), Blaise Sytsma-Reed (outstanding drawing), Madelyn Skaggs (outstanding photograph or digital work), Lydia Goldsborough (outstanding portrait), Margaret Mercer (people’s choice, top), Cru Pegg (people’s choice, runner-up), Logan Smithburg (Stories Told: visual storytelling middle school), Nora Riley (Stories Told: visual storytelling high school), Margaret Mercer (outstanding work of art) and Landen Cutler (outstanding work of art, runner-up).
Honorable mentions included: Harper Call, Ariya Cloud-Hall, Caroline Crook, Madelynn Eaton, Nadine Ernst, River Hudson, Halie Hume, Elladee Keiser, Nikolas Krastev, River Lewis, Reid Lucier, Timothy Malesko, Amelie Mantha, Millie Michanowicz, Evelyn Owens, Elsee Pershinskee, Blythe Splitt, Sophia Stein, Harrison Stringer, Eldon Ward and Jack Wilson.
The following students earned the Kendall College of Art and Design Award: Jaylyn Brusse, Maddi Cytacki, Norah Fransz, Heidi Harrell, Eleigh Honson, Ronald Houseworth, Theren Hunter, Nolan Miller, Josephine Peterman, Nora Riley and Raymond Stafford.
The following students earned the University of Michigan’s STAMPS School of Art and Design – Creative Community Scholarship: Mea Wesley, Eleigh Honson and Emily Kurzawa. Seraphina Kembro, Wyatt Woodall, Devin Hausler, Emma Speer, Cassia Spence and Ella Butler were honorable mentions.
The Good Hart Artist Residency Award Winners were Blaise Sytsma-Reed and Emma Ingalls (runner-up), and Wiigwaas Craven earned the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council – Best Nature Scene Award.
CTAC Young Writers Exposition winners were: Lucy Murphy (first place, elementary), Dylan Schuitema (second place, elementary), Helene Norcross (third place, elementary), Sadie Tebeau (first place, middle school), Tavian MacLachlan (second place, middle school), Alex Haase (third place, middle school), Ella Mae Loomis (Stories Told, middle school), Parker Reed (first place, high school), Evelyn Sharapova (second place, high school), Alelí Barrera-Bardeguez (third place, high school), Evelyn Sharapova (Stories Told, high school).
Amelie Hanson (Petoskey) and Nora Neidorfler (Traverse City) earned the CTAC 2025 Youth Art College Scholarships, and Noelle Phillips earned the Drs. Bill and Jane Millar Outstanding Progress Award.
Chloe Bos, Ailinn Mullaney, Thalia Springborn and Leif VanHorn earned the Harriett Lee Hicklen Memorial Scholarship for Dance.
— This story was created by reporter Karly Graham, [email protected], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.