Students from Manual’s Visual Arts Magnet entered 150 works of art in the Regional Scholastic Art Competition promoted by The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.

The submissions earned 43 Gold Keys, which is the highest regional honor. The Regional Gold Key pieces will be sent for further judging at the national level for additional awards, and possibly $10,000 in scholarship money.

In addition to the Gold Keys, 24 Silver Keys and 28 Honorable Mentions were awarded to Manual students (all of which will be recognized at the Gheens Academy in Louisville on February 10th at 6 p.m.).

“It’s really hectic getting everything together for Scholastics,” said Benjamin Wade (12), a recipient of a two Gold Key awards and one Silver Key award. “In the end, it’s really worth it, because Manual gets a lot of recognition. I might go on to win a scholarship, but year after year, it’s been more of a group thing.”

Gold Key pieces will be on display at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft from February 4 – 26, 2011. The Silver Key and Honorable Mention pieces will be on display from January 28- March 1, 2011.

Other excellent pieces by Manual students that were not awarded a Scholastic Key can be viewed in the Norma E. Brown Gallery exhibit, “The Salon des Refuses,” on the first floor in the VA Annex.