The Aquidneck Island Land Trust has announced 29 student winners in its 2025 Art & Writing Contest, an annual competition that promotes the importance and value of conserving open spaces.
Students at Aquidneck Island schools and those who reside on the island were invited to enter artwork or written work depicting their favorite local vista. The winners were honored in a ceremony at The Pennfield School on Monday.
“It’s wonderful to see this younger generation’s expression of conservation,” said Terry Sullivan, Aquidneck Island Land Trust executive director. “When you read the students’ stories and look at the beautiful art they created, you can see they have a deep appreciation for the lands and water of Aquidneck Island.”
Art entries were judged by Jonathan Gewirz, partner at design/build firm Sixteen on Center; Seamus Hames, arts education program director at the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts; and Mady Moore, a local artist.
Written entries were judged by Savanna Dunning, journalist at The Newport Daily News; Beezie Bickford, associate head for faculty and school affairs at St. George’s School; and Helena Touhey, managing editor of Newport Life Magazine and former Land Trust intern.
The contest was underwritten by a grant from Sixteen on Center.
Winners received cash prizes and a household membership to the Land Trust. The schools of each first-place winner will receive a grant to support their environmental science curricula.
Art winners, kindergarten through grade four: Ethan Earl, first place, Gaudet Learning Academy; Kolbe Walkusky, second place, Melville Elementary School; Tessa Schoonmaker, third place, Melville Elementary School; and Lydia Larson, Haley Chappelle and Christopher Filloramo-Smith, honorable mentions, Melville Elementary School.
Art winners, grades five through eight: Isla Ackman, first place, The Pennfield School; Sidonie Burton, second place, The Pennfield School; Harper Scholhamer, third place, The Pennfield School; and Aria Gallant, The Pennfield School, Carol Biszko and Aden Argante, All Saints STEAM Academy, honorable mentions.
Art winners, grades nine through twelve: Kiyomi Francis, first place, St. George’s School; Jayda Barsdale, second place, Rogers High School; Luis Lopez, third place, Rogers High School; and Kyleigh Landers, Mari Field and Jackson Hernandez, Rogers High School, honorable mentions.
Writing winners, kindergarten through grade four: Eloise Pietz, first place, Hathaway Elementary School; Hutcheon Devaud, second place, All Saints STEAM Academy; Aaron Arruda, third place, All Saints STEAM Academy; and Annette Biszko and Sophye Hansel, All Saints STEAM Academy, honorable mentions.
Writing winners, grades five through eight: Theo Rosenthal, first place, St. Michael’s Country Day School; Morgan Rossell, second place, St. Michael’s Country Day School; Graham Lsundon, third place, The Pennfield School; and James Hanigan, St. Michael’s Country Day School, Hadley Botelho and Finley Moulton, The Pennfield School, honorable mentions.
