The Aquidneck Island Land Trust has announced 27 student winners in the 2024 Aquidneck Island Land Trust Art & Writing Contest, held annually to promote the importance and value of the conservation of open spaces.
For its 10th anniversary, the Land Trust partnered with the Newport Art Museum to display all student work in Voices of the Future, now open through April 27. This year, students at Aquidneck Island schools and those who reside on Island were invited to enter artwork or written work reflecting on their favorite Aquidneck Island vistas and consider its relationship with the changing environment. The winners were honored in a ceremony held at the Cushing Gallery on January 29, 2025.
Art entries were judged by a panel that included Jonathan Gewirz, Seamus Hames, and Susan Woythaler. Written entries were judged by Beezie Bickford, Colleen Cronin, and Helena Touhey. The contest was underwritten by a grant from design/build firm Sixteen On Center.
“This contest’s goal is to inspire the next generation of conservationists,” said Terry Sullivan, Aquidneck Island Land Trust Executive Director, “Having the students’ wonderful artwork and writings from across the Island on display at the Newport Art Museum highlights their passion and talent and showcases how much they all appreciate the natural beauty of our Island”
“Newport Art Museum is proud to partner with the Aquidneck Island Land Trust on this anniversary competition so that together we can inspire and celebrate the creativity of local students,” said Danielle Ogden, artistic director at the Newport Art Museum. “The current exhibition on display at the Museum – Donna Bassin: Portraits of the Precarious Earth – is made even more dynamic and thought-provoking by including this collection of student artwork. We invite the community to come explore the exhibitions and experience the power of art through student voices, our extraordinary permanent collection, and a compelling contemporary artist.”
Art winners in the kindergarten through grade four category are: Reese Harnett, first place (Melville Elementary School); Julian Laudon, second place (The Pennfield School); Rachel Zhang, third place (Melville Elementary School); and Carlos Alvizures, honorable mention (Melville Elementary School).
Winners in the grade five through grade eight category are: Kiyomi Francis, first place (St. Philomena School of the Sacred Heart); Luca Dorrien Triasci, second place; Ella Cuccia, third place; and Jocelyn Connett, honorable mention, all of The Pennfield School.
Winners in the grade nine through grade twelve category are: Winston Yeung, first place; Reese Starling, second place; and Zoe Chen, third place, all three from St. George’s School; Erik Ramirez Ramos, honorable mention (Rogers High School); and Denyia Wilkinson.
Writing winners in the kindergarten through grade four category are: James Zebian, first place; Madison Apted, second place; Jack Fountain, third place; and Arminda Gregson, honorable mention (all of All Saints STEAM Academy). Winners in the grade five through eight category are: Ben Fenster, first place (St. Michael’s Country Day School); Maddie Meko, second place (The Pennfield School); Caroline Whitlock, third place; with Piper Rossell, Nina Woishek, and Morgan Rossell receiving honorable mentions (of St. Michael’s Country Day School). Winners in the grade nine through grade twelve category are: Caryn Terpening, first place; Jasmyn Rogers, second place; Abigail Mello, third place; and Lille Clinch and Justice Dutra receiving honorable mentions (all of Middletown High School).
Winners received cash prizes and a household membership to the Land Trust. New this year, the first-place winners in the art category won a scholarship to the Newport Art Museum School. The schools of each first-place winner received a generous grant to support their environmental science curricula. The Land Trust thanks Sixteen On Center for underwriting the contest, which encourages local students to recognize and treasure the beauty of Aquidneck Island.
Aquidneck Island Land Trust is the oldest accredited land trust in Rhode Island. Since 1990, it has conserved 102 properties covering 2,854 acres of land on Aquidneck Island, or 12% of the Island’s total acreage.
