35th Annual “Touch the Future” Art Show Honors Bucks & Montgomery High School Students

For the 35th year, top works of art from Bucks and Montgomery County high school students will be featured during the Annual “Touch the Future” art show, which is returning to an in-person show this year in collaboration with Montgomery County Community College, beginning on February 27.

Photo copyright AMP Studios

“Touch the Future” is a professionally-juried art exhibit named in tribute to Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space who perished aboard the space shuttle Challenger and was known to have said, “I touch the future. I teach.”

Touch the Future is sponsored by the Mideastern Region of the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the Council for the Advancement of Public Schools.

“We thank Montgomery County Community College for partnering with us again on this year’s show and we are thrilled to be returning to an in-person event for our artists, parents, and the public,” said Alan Malachowski, President of PSEA’s Mideastern Region. “Last year’s virtual show was wonderful, the platform impressive, but there is something unique and personal about experiencing art in a gallery.”

The show launched on Friday, February 25. 287 students from 24 local high schools, supported by 83 teachers, participated in the show. The winners of the juried show were selected by Shawn Sabourin, Admissions Counselor at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art.

The 2022 show awarded 24 prizes totaling $3,750 to students from 13 Bucks and Montgomery County high schools.

Photo (C) AMP Studios

“Montgomery County Community College is pleased to partner with the region’s school districts to showcase and celebrate the artwork of these incredibly talented students in our Fine Arts Center Gallery located at the Blue Bell Campus,” said Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, MCCC President. “Hosting an art exhibit that honors Christa McAuliffe and her legacy is a natural fit, as the College looks forward to opening a Challenger Learning Center at the Pottstown Campus later this year.  The intent of the Center is to inspire youth to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.”

-LIST OF WINNERS BELOW-

AWARD/CATEGORYSTUDENT NAMESCHOOLTITLETEACHER
1st Place Best of ShowRowan BlankemeyerUpper Dublin HSJelly Print BookSteven Hopkins
2nd Place Best of ShowKaylee CorbiNorth Penn HS“Transience of Conversation”Colleen Cooney-Irwin
3rd Place Best of ShowReed StoltzCouncil Rock South HSBody SnatchersMichael Catalano
CATEGORY AWARDSSTUDENT NAMESCHOOLTITLETEACHER
PrintmakingAnnalyse WashingtonAbington Senior HSEscapeDavid Ferro
Computer AnimationCameron StewardNorth Penn HSIndividual ReelMike Werner
Digital Photography   Ashley KitchNorth Penn HSUntitledJoanne Carrick
Drawing- Black & WhiteMckenna MaguirePennridge HSHair of the DogSarah Moos
Jewelry/Metals *Sue Castle Memorial Award*Emily MederCouncil Rock South HSThe HouseElizabeth Thomas
Traditional Silver PrintXinhan ChenUpper Dublin HSCity Grid JoinerSteven Hopkins
Color Drawing Eliza FeilUpper Moreland HSShrimp, Baby!Alexander Pingulli
Fiber CraftsOlivia WagnerSpring-Ford Area HSWork in ProgressBrent Kissel
Digital Imaging/Computer GraphicsRenee KangNorth Penn HSPower of WordsColleen Cooney-Irwin
Painting-Acrylic/Oil Oisin CarolanSouderton Area Senior HSBasquiatGinny Perry
Watercolor Alysha SchneiderCouncil Rock North HSSecret GardenColleen Palmer
2-D Design (no digital)Jaida EtheredgeSouderton Area Senior HSMy Name is JaidaGinny Perry
2-D Mixed Media  Alaire GallowayCentral Bucks East HSTo the Woman Like MeHelene Moriarity
3-D Functional  Alex McCauleyUpper Dublin HSWooden BowlCrystal Dunn
3-D Single Medium SculptureMakena KumfertMethacton HSI Love U” (black) & More Than LonelinessJason Koons
3-D Mixed Media Sculpture Julia KimNorth Penn HSPurgeColleen Cooney-Irwin
Rosemary Hamilton Memorial Art Award: Teachers’ ChoiceRaine PowellWilliam Tennent HSThe Tree of LifeAlexandra Montgomery
PSEA Purchase PrizeMaggie LynchJenkintown HSJenkintown Train StationJason Slowik
PSEA Purchase PrizeMadison PinarPennsbury HSThe DanceKelsey Adair
PSEA Purchase PrizeMolly GallagherSpring-Ford Area HSSistersLauren Keifer

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