Converse Celebrates 2025 Emerging Young Artists Winners
Converse’s Department of Art, Design & Letters held its annual Emerging Young Artists Juried Exhibition this spring. The Converse Emerging Young Artists Exhibition provides a venue to recognize exemplary art by high school students and to help them begin to prepare for future studies in the arts while still in grades 9-12. This is a unique opportunity for local high school students to exhibit in the prominent Milliken Art Gallery and win accolades for their art.
Accepted submissions were on exhibition in Milliken Art Gallery from March 24 through April 5, 2025, with the reception and award ceremony held on the the final day of the exhibition.
Faculty from Converse’s Department of Art, Design & Letters reviewed submissions from across the state. Awards were given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each medium, and one best in show was awarded.
Congratulations to the 2025 award winners!
BEST IN SHOW
Photography Mattie Atnip (10th grade) Separation. The Fine Arts Center; Teacher Zane Logan.
FIRST PLACE AWARDS
Painting: Norah Hoppe (12th grade) Self Portrait. South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities; Teacher: Paul Yanko.
Drawing: Emelin Orellana (12th grade) Anxious Thoughts. Woodruff High School; Teacher Samantha Dosher.
Mixed Media: Ava Lewis (10th grade) Victorian Leisure. Riverside High School; Teacher Amanda Wald.
Printmaking: Lauren Luther (12th grade) Evan. South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities; Teacher David Gerhard.
Ceramics: Calliope Fenske (10th grade) The World at my Fingertips. Fine Arts Center; Teacher: Kelly King.
Sculpture: Janae Brockman (12th grade) Hoops. The Fine Arts Center; Teacher: April Dauscha.
Photography: Lucy McMahon (10th grade) Trust Your Instincts. The Fine Arts Center; Teacher Zane Logan.
Digital Media / Graphic Design: Camila Ramirez (12th grade) I’m a Ramirez. South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities; Teacher Chris Koelle.
SECOND PLACE AWARDS
Painting: Kimbrayia Moultrie (12th grade) Tranquility. Dorman High School; Teacher: Frances Vaughan.
Drawing: Ava Matti Phillips (11th grade) Fallen Despair, Spartanburg Christian Academy; Teacher: Heidi Godfrey.
Mixed Media: Bri Rodriguez-Melendez (12th grade) Inner Pop. Dorman High School; Teacher: Robert Urban.
Printmaking: Brooklyn Alexander (10th grade) Melodic. Dorman High School; Teacher: Frances Vaughan.
Ceramics: Lily Goll (12th grade) Talavera Plate Setting. Greenville High School; Teacher: Morgan Mattson.
Sculpture: Addie Smith (12th grade) Tree House. South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities; Teacher Carey Morton.
Photography: Rosie Clark (12th grade) Untitled. South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities; Teacher Haley Floyd.
Digital Media / Graphic Design: Haylie Rogers (11th grade) Visual Autobiography. Woodruff High School; Teacher: Amber Chappell.
THIRD PLACE AWARDS
Painting: Juliette Schmitz (10th grade) Our Smiles. Spartanburg Day School; Teacher Emmy Farrell.
Drawing: Luca Gayosso (11th grade) Reflections of the soul. Boiling Springs High; Teacher Amanda Keith.
Mixed Media: Michael Adzhiev (10th grade) Northern Lights. Dorman High School; Teacher: Eric Bomar.
Printmaking: Casey Krook (10th grade) Chunky Monkey. J.F. Byrnes High School; Teacher Julia Doiron.
Ceramics: Nathaniel Greenberg (12th grade) Stone TeapotSouth Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities; Teacher Elaine Quave.
Sculpture: Lucy Chastain (11th grade) Catching Memories. The Fine Arts Center; Teacher Katy Cassell.
Photography Mattison Gilbert (11th grade) Mountain Man. The Fine Arts Center; Teacher: Zane Logan.
Digital Media/Graphic Design: Edgar Hilson (11th grade) Carrots in the Sun. Fort Dorchester High; Teacher Kevin Morrissey.
Converse University and the Converse Department of Art and Design are grateful to all the schools, teachers, and students who participated in this high school juried exhibition.