Otero College Announces Top Winners of the 69th Annual Otero Arts Festival

La Junta, CO – Otero College is proud to announce the outstanding student winners of the 69th Annual Otero Arts Festival, celebrating the creativity and talent of middle and high school students across Southeastern Colorado in the areas of visual art, creative writing, music, and theater. Along with the top winners there were numerous first, second, third, and honorable mention ribbons awarded across all four categories. A complete list of winners can be found on Otero College’s website under Otero Arts Festival.

Creative Writing Winners

• Overall Best Work, Senior Division:
  Drayton Grasmick, “Gambling the World Away” – Grade 12, Rocky Ford Jr./Sr. High School
  Teacher: Bea Jae Viescas
• Overall Best Work, Junior Division:
  Violet Thorn, “I Am” – Grade 8, Fowler Jr./Sr. High School
  Teacher: Yulissa Crawford
• Otero College Creative Writing Scholarship:
  David Pentlicki, “Waltz of Life,” “The Catalyst,” and “Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Days” – Rocky Ford Jr./Sr. High School
  Teacher: Bea Jae Viescas
• Scholarship Alternate:
  Presley Manchego, “Grandma’s House,” “How To Play Your Golf Clubs,” and “A Loving Poem” – Fowler Jr./Sr. High School
  Teacher: Paige Lower

Creative Books

• Best Overall Book: Maria Lavin, “Days of Life in a Week” – La Junta Jr./Sr. High School
• Most Original Book: Josslyn Marx, “Clean Up Bentley” – La Junta Jr./Sr. High School
• Most Creative Book: Jaqueline Becerra, “Poor Elvis” – La Junta Jr./Sr. High School
• Best Storyline: Madalyn DePriest, “Seasons Will Change” – Rocky Ford Jr./Sr. High School
• Honorable Mention: Donavyn West, “An Ode to Livestock” – Rocky Ford Jr./Sr. High School

Senior Portfolio Awards

1st – David Pentlicki, Rocky Ford Jr./Sr. High School
2nd – Presley Manchego, Fowler Jr./Sr. High School
3rd – Meadow Holmquist, Fowler Jr./Sr. High School
4th – Nicolas Higgs, Rocky Ford Jr./Sr. High School
Honorable Mention – Rylee Rodriguez, Fowler Jr./Sr. High School

Music Winners

• Best Musician, Junior Division:
  Matthew Mascarenas – Grade 7, La Junta Jr./Sr. High School
  Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston
• Best Musician, Senior Division:
  Maria Lavin – Grade 11, La Junta Jr./Sr. High School
  Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston
• Otero Music Scholarship:
  Alijandra Palacio – Grade 12, La Junta Jr./Sr. High School
  Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston

Theatre Winner

• Best Actor, Junior Division (Grades 7–8):
  Briley Mayhoffer – Grade 7, Liberty University Online Academy
  Instructor: Kelly Jo Smith

Visual Arts Winners

• Best of Show – Senior Division:
  Sydney Davis, “F-Stop” – Drawing/White Charcoal – Grade 10, Swink High School
• Best of Show – Junior Division:
  Emma Covington, “Wild at Heart” – Painting/Acrylic – Grade 8, Swink Junior High School
• Otero College Visual Arts Scholarships:
  Sol Tirado-Jensen – Swink High School
  Lillian Klein – Tiger Trades Academy
• Alternates:
  Owen Tillquist – Manzanola Jr./Sr. High School
  Courtnee Baylor – Fowler High School
• President’s Award:
  Madalyn DePriest, “Autumn Morning” – Painting/Acrylic – Rocky Ford Jr./Sr. High School
  Courtnee Baylor, “Athena Statue” – Graphite – Fowler High School

Judge’s Recognition Awards

• Judge’s Choice (Senior): Sol Tirado-Jensen, “Verde Rica” – Swink High School
• Judge’s Choice (Junior): Katy Pickering, Pottery – Swink Junior High School
• Judge’s Selection (Senior): Zoey Montoya, “The Dreaded Tarantula Fest” – La Junta Jr./Sr. High School
• Judge’s Selection (Junior): Sandra Schrock, “The Light is Yours” – Wiley School

Visual Arts Senior Portfolio Awards

1st – Sol Tirado-Jensen, Swink High School
2nd – Zoey Montoya, La Junta Jr./Sr. High School
3rd – Courtnee Baylor, Fowler High School
4th – Amiel Rivera, Rocky Ford Jr./Sr. High School
Honorable Mention – Analee Valverde, Tiger Trades Academy

Special Art Awards

• Fine Arts League Senior Portfolio Award: Amiel Rivera, Rocky Ford Jr./Sr. High School
• Fine Arts League Senior Awards:
  Chris Johnson, “End of Nights” – Tiger Trades Academy
  Ehren Gonzales, “Paco” – Wiley Schools
• Fine Arts League Junior Awards:
  Ava Cahill, “Lines of Butterfly” – Cheraw Middle School
  Sandra Schrock, “Coris” – Wiley Schools
• Southeast Colorado Creative Partnership Sr. Portfolio Awards:
  Lillian Klein and Analee Valverde, Tiger Trades Academy

Congratulations to all the winners and participants of the 69th Annual Otero Arts Festival. Your creativity and dedication to the arts continue to inspire and enrich our community. For more information about the Otero Arts Festival or scholarship opportunities, please contact reach out to otero-artsfestival@otero.edu.