Four Kingsley Elementary Students Earn Spots in Michigan Top 100 Art Show

Boaz Alpers, a student at Kingsley Elementary in the small Grand Traverse County village of Kingsley, earned a Top 18 ranking in Michigan's most competitive youth art showcase, placing him among the highest-rated young artists in the state. Three of his classmates, Maggie Rothwell, Sylvia Sedlacek, and Avery Bott, also earned Top 100 placements in the Michigan Art Education Association's annual statewide show, Kingsley Area Schools announced Friday.

More than 200 pieces were submitted from across Michigan, making the four selections a significant achievement for a single elementary school. Art teacher Hannah Langley submitted five pieces on behalf of Kingsley students; four of those five were accepted into the Top 100 list.

The recognized works include pieces created in multiple media. One crayon drawing came with a learning statement describing the concepts behind it: "I learned about the rainbow, emotions, and different types of lines in art. This project displays my skills in drawing lines, coloring, cutting, gluing, and creating something with emotion. I created a happy line monster." A painting entry reflected lessons in color theory: "I learned about the difference between warm and cool colors in art. I created a painting using warm and cool colors. This project shows my painting, cutting, and gluing skills." The school's post did not specify which student produced which piece.

"We are so excited to announce that four Kingsley elementary students' artworks have been ranked in the top 100 pieces in the Michigan Art Education Association's annual state show!" Kingsley Area Schools wrote in announcing the results.

The recognition arrives as Kingsley Area Schools has logged several notable student achievements in recent weeks, including Anna Bauer becoming the first student in school history to be named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist and the high school NJROTC unit receiving an invitation to march in Washington D.C.'s Memorial Day Parade.