Best of Show
Olentangy Berlin Student Earns Top Honor at Ohio Wesleyan's 2026 High School Art Showcase
DELAWARE, Ohio – Fifty-six students from seven area high schools participated in the 2026 High School Art Showcase hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University's Department of Fine Arts. Zach Krupar of Olentangy Berlin High School earned Best of Show for his drawing, "A Memory Left Behind."
Students from Bexley High School, Buckeye Valley High School, Columbus School for Girls, Delaware Hayes High School, Olentangy Berlin High School, Olentangy High School, and Olentangy Orange High School were selected by their art teachers to participate in the fourth annual Ohio Wesleyan showcase. They were honored during an open house hosted Nov. 7 by the OWU Department of Fine Arts, which included demonstrations and presentations throughout all four floors of Edgar Hall, 35 S. Sandusky St.
The theme of this year's show, "Out of My Mind," focused on artwork created by the students without the use of artificial intelligence (AI). OWU's full-time Fine Arts faculty judged the submissions, and all winners earned award certificates, Ohio Wesleyan T-shirts, and art supplies.
In addition to Krupar, students recognized at the showcase with Best Of and Student Choice Awards for the caliber of their artistic works were:
- Best of 2D: Danna Letechipia of Olentangy Berlin High School for the drawing, "Say CheEsEsEse."
- Best of 3D: Lu Kausek of Olentangy Berlin High School for the jewelry piece, "As Luas."
- Student Choice: Saanvi Mula of Olentangy Orange High School for the jewelry piece, "Independent Work."
Students recognized with Honorable Mention Awards were:
- Selena Chen of Olentangy High School for the mixed media piece, "The Blood We Wear."
- Simone Dean of the Columbus School for Girls for the gouache painting, "Mixed."
- Carter Grogan of Delaware Hayes High School for the photo, "What's Up."
- Colby Kauffman of Bexley High School for the acrylic painting, "Peaceful Snow."
- Quinn Niezgoda of Delaware Hayes High School for the sculpture, "Payday."
- Suzaka Ochi of Olentangy Orange High School for the gouache painting, "Oasis."
- Olivia Ross of Olentangy Berlin High School for the drawing, "Zoom In, Zoom Out."
- Milana Vihrova of Olentangy High School for the drawing, "Riding On My Fears."
- Ivory Whitaker of Buckeye Valley High School for the painting, "Addiction."
Created in 1864, Ohio Wesleyan's Department of Fine Arts is one of America's first college art departments. Today, it offers both Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees. Learn more about the department, its majors and minors, and its faculty at owu.edu/FineArts.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is America's University for Ambitious Self-Discovery. At the private liberal arts university in Delaware, Ohio, students find their purpose and build the skills to pursue it through the OWU Connection, which links classroom learning to research, internships, travel-learning, and service. Ohio Wesleyan offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III sports. The university is featured in "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report "Best Colleges" list. Connect with OWU expert sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu/admission.
