Launching Leaders Winners Gallery - 2021
Letters Awards
The worldwide pandemic of 2020-21 brought Humanity to a full stop. We had time to reflect upon our outer life circumstances and careers. And because we had time to slow down, we came face-to-face with our inner, mental/emotional lives. Our Launching Leaders in the Arts Letters entrants shared their reflective process through their essays and poems. The themes of future, careers, and family/personal relationships in tandem with their coming-of-age process, were powerfully expressed through their entries.
2021 Letters Judges: Judy Allen, Amy Elder, Maddy Ginsberg, Francesca Simon
Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Award of Excellence
Madelyn Halperin
Pimento Cheese
Theme: Future Leadership: problem-solving in everyday
circumstances lead to mastery of life on all levels
Venice High School
Teacher: Es Swihart
Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Special Awards
Simone Liang
An Apology to My Motherland
Theme: Racial Identity as a foundation for personal authenticity
Southeast High School
Teacher: Sara Bizek
Ashley Tinoco
The Red Jacket
Theme: Racial Identity as a foundation for personal authenticity
Manatee High School
Teacher: Melissa Powley Link
Anna Lesnick
Letter to My Future Self
Theme: Self-reflection on future plans
State College of Florida Collegiate School Venice
Miranda Clapp
What She Promised
Theme: Coming-of-age reflection on trauma in relationships
Sarasota Military Academy
Teacher: Dr. Cecilia Ferradino
Betty Altman Art Awards
Congratulations to our 2021 visual arts winners. The variety of mediums used was imaginative and impressive—from fine art and photography to digital art. The entries illustrated talent and technology, and we are grateful to the teachers who urged these winners to enter!
2021 Art Judges: Jojo Fusco, Marie Garafano, and Lady Lynn Wilson
The Betty Altman Award of Excellence
Sarah Belli
Savannah
Mixed Media
Sarasota High School
Teacher: Mary Jo Floryjanski, Teacher
The Betty Altman Special Awards
Ella Mirman
Birth of Nature's Breath
Digital
Booker High School
Jeffery Cornwell, Teacher
Sayo Hayashi
Market
Digital
Booker High School
Jeffery Cornwell, Teacher
Alexa VanSuch
Lost
Photography
Sarasota High School
Debra Markley, Teacher
Margaux Moussier
Breathe
Watercolor
Venice High School
Jackie Henson-Dacey, Teacher
Music Awards
In the face of the worst possible adversity, our three young composers have not only proven their will to survive, but their tenacity and willingness to thrive and create that which is safely nestled inside their hearts and minds. Today, they become award-winning composers with grace.
Chair & Music Judge 2021, Jan Eberle Schaberg
First Place
Juan Velasquez-Rodriguez
A Journey For Honor - Concert Band
Southeast High School
Andrea Vella, Teacher
Second Place
Colin Leonard
Color of Twilight - Solo Piano
Booker High School
Sung Choe, Teacher
Third Place
Katherine Arico
Solemn Hour - Flute Trio
Venice High School
David Wing, Teacher