Angie Kim of Kamiak High School won a Silver Medal for her portfolio, which included “Honest Projection.”

Angie Kim of Kamiak High School won a Silver Medal for her portfolio, which included “Honest Projection.”

Three young Snohomish County artists win national awards

Sophia Rennert of Snohomish High School, Angie Kim of Kamiak High School and Tessa Flemming of Edmonds-Woodway are honored.

When Sophia Rennert got the word, she shed tears of joy.

The Snohomish High School senior won a Gold Medal in the national Scholastic Art Awards for her black-and-white photo, “Eggs.”

“I was so proud,” Rennert said. “So, you can imagine how ecstatic I was when I received the national medal. I was especially honored when I saw the incredible talent of the other participants.”

Each year, Snohomish County teachers submit their students’ artwork to the Schack Art Center in Everett for the Scholastic Art Awards. This year, Schack received more than 780 entries. Eighteen judges narrowed those down to the 62 best.

“Only about a third of the students get an award,” said Nancy Bell, Schack’s education director. “Their quality of work is always so high, so to even get an honorable mention is a big honor.”

Only eight gold medals are awarded nationally, and only a small number of silver medals. Of the 62 submissions by the Schack, three winners are from Snohomish County: Rennert, Angie Kim of Kamiak High School and Tessa Flemming of Edmonds-Woodway High School.

Kim, a senior at Kamiak, said she felt “uncomfortably flattered” at winning a Silver Medal.

“I was relieved that I was rewarded for my experimentation,” she said. “Lots of students in my art class and school received awards, so I saw their art while they were working on it. They are very talented.”

Rennert’s “Eggs,” which also was awarded the American Vision Medal, was originally a class project to experiment with lighting.

“When taking my photo, I made sure the lighting was behind the egg so that the light would shine through the cracks,” she said. “When editing it, I made it black and white and turned the clarity and texture up so the cracks, spots & texture of the egg would become very clear.”

“Sophia’s image has multiple of values and textures,” said Jay Adams, Rennert’s art teacher. “The backlighting creates a feeling of emerging or breaking through. It seems simple, but she has a great eye.”

Adams has been submitting his students’ work into the Scholastic Art Awards for 12 years. He’s had thousands of students enter.

“To get Gold at Nationals is a rare thing,” he said. “Sophia is my third gold medalist. She is the first one to get American Visions at the national level.”

Rennert said she plans to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, to major in elementary education and minor in theater.

Edmonds-Woodway’s Tessa Flemming won a Silver Medal for her sculpture, “Involuntary Consumer,” which depicts a sea turtle tangled in plastic.

The awards, sponsored by Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, draw more than 350,000 submissions, with only 2,900 making it to nationals. The Gold Medal winners are scheduled to be honored June 4 at Carnegie Hall in New York.

For some students, the Scholastic Art Awards can change lives. Kim is hoping her honor will help her get into Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to study art and psychology. Her portfolio, “Display Emotions,” included eight pieces and earned her Schack’s Susan Jane Russell Scholarship.

Each piece is to be viewed sequentially, with Kim stuck in a TV and eventually breaking out, including a piece titled “Honest Projection.”

“Getting a Silver Medal for your portfolio in New York is very hard to do,” Bell said of Kim’s art. “She has some wonderful pieces. It falls in line that Angie would be the one to receive a medal for her portfolio. She’s very, very talented.”

Kim said the Schack has been a great help.

“Sometimes it seems like they’re more enthusiastic about my art than I am,” she said. “I feel fortunate to have these organizations to encourage teen artists.”

Talk to us

More in Life

Brian Geppert holds a birdhouse made of skis at his home in Lynnwood, Washington on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Geppert started a recycling program for the greater Seattle area, which has saved hundreds of skis from their demise. He turns the skis into functional art for the home, such as coat racks, bottle openers, bookends, shelves, candle sconces, toilet plungers, beer flights, and more. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Boeing engineer turns old ski gear into household essentials

If Lynnwood’s Brian Geppert isn’t on the slopes, then he’s turning skis into coat racks and bottle openers.

Give your home some extra love with a deep clean this spring. (Jennifer Bardsley)
Roll up your sleeves and tackle these 15 spring cleaning steps

A lot of work? Sure. But it beats paying $800 for a cleaning service to do all this stuff.

What to do when a co-worker makes you miserable

It’s counterintuitive, but you need to get to know that person better. You don’t need to be friends — just understand them better.

Lyft charged her $150 for mud stains in a car. But she didn’t do it!

Debbie Kim is shocked to find a $150 charge from Lyft on her credit card. What did she do — and is there a way to undo it?

In this side-by-side image, the Totem Diner and Pacific Stone Company signs put on a flirty display for all to see Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Signs of love on Rucker Ave: blushing rocks, scrambled eggs, a coffee date

Messages on display on Totem Family Diner and Pacific Stone Co. signs reveal “secret crushes.” More updates expected.

Comedian Jeff Dye is scheduled to do a show March 25 in Everett. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Comedian Jeff Dye does a set in Everett on Saturday. And country star Tracy Byrd performs locally Friday.

Some of the brightest spots in my garden right now are my clumps of mixed crocuses. (Getty Images)
Lessons spring from what does and does not winter over

Taking stock of how your garden fared through the cold, wet months will help you plant for the future.

Antique mocha ware, made in England to export to the United States and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries, caught collectors’ attention in the mid-20th century. Like many mocha pieces, this colorful mug is decorated with several patterns.
The name for decorated pottery like this can be deceiving

Mocha pottery is made from clay and features colorful patterns painted over a white glaze.

The 2023 Infiniti QX60 is powered by a V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. (Infiniti)
2023 Infiniti QX60 offers luxury at an attractive price

All four trim levels of this mid-size SUV come generously equipped with premium features as standard.

Most Read