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'Eye' for Art

Olentangy Berlin Student Wins Best of Show at Ohio Wesleyan's 2025 High School Art Showcase

DELAWARE, Ohio – Sixty-four students from six area high schools participated in the 2025 High School Art Showcase hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University's Department of Fine Arts. Olivia Ross of Olentangy Berlin High School earned Best of Show for her colored-pencil drawing "Eye See You."

Students from Bexley 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 third annual Ohio Wesleyan showcase. They were honored during an open house hosted Nov. 15 by the OWU Department of Fine Arts that included demonstrations and presentations throughout all four floors of Edgar Hall, 35 S. Sandusky St.

This year, the theme of the showcase centered on the environment, with all submissions judged by OWU's full-time Fine Arts faculty. The winners all earned an award certificate, Ohio Wesleyan T-shirt, and art supplies.

Also recognized at the showcase with Best Of and Student Choice Awards for the caliber of their artistic works were:

• Best of 2D: Mira Miele of Olentangy Berlin for "Ramen."
• Best of 3D: Nina Lorenz of Olentangy Orange for "Divine Flight."
• Student Choice Award: Towaf Farah of Olentangy Berlin for "Girl with the Pearl Earrings" (chosen by the OWU Fine Arts Student Board and Art Education majors.)

Recognized with Honorable Mention Awards were:

• Anjola Awosika, Brooklyn Barfield, and Marie Sweeney of the Columbus School for Girls for "We Know the Way."
• Stella Beisner of Delaware Hayes High School for "Untitled."
• Dylan Cooperrider of Olentangy Berlin for "Grounded."
• Sylvie Nowlin of Bexley High School for "Ohio Countryside."
• Sydney O'Neil of Olentangy Berlin for "Transparent."
• Evan Stewart of Delaware Hayes for "Untitled."
• Daylia Westfall of Olentangy High for "Joan of Arc."

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.

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Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.