Maine West Filmmakers Recognized at Screentest Student Fest Film Festival #207Now #studentfilmmakers @wmth_west @mainewestfab

 

Maine West student filmmakers had an exciting night of recognition at the Screentest Student Film Festival, held April 10 at the AI Prairie Center for the Arts.

Out of more than 100 submissions, only 11 films were selected for screening—and two of them were created by Maine West students. This level of recognition speaks to the creativity, craftsmanship, and storytelling our students are developing through their work.

Liv Young presented her documentary, Not the Way I Imagined, while George Perez, Jonathan Liakopolous, and Philip Simpson shared their documentary, Carlos Kutz. Each film offered a unique and thoughtful perspective, highlighting the power of student voice through film.

Both documentaries are available to view on the Maine West WMTH YouTube page, allowing the broader community to experience and celebrate this work. Please enjoy them below:

In addition to having her film selected, Liv Young was awarded the $1,000 Rob Pileckes Film and Theater Scholarship. She will continue her studies in film next year at Indiana University—an exciting next step in what is already a promising journey.

This recognition is a strong reflection of the meaningful work happening in our film program and the ways students are being challenged to tell impactful stories.

Opening Night: The Outsiders Takes the Stage at Maine West #207Now #theatre @mainewestfab @mainewestdrama

 

Tonight, the curtain rose on Maine West’s spring play, The Outsiders, and what a powerful opening it was.

From the very first moment, the cast drew the audience into the world of Ponyboy, Johnny, and the Greasers, bringing to life a story that continues to resonate across generations. Set against the tension between the Greasers and Socs, the production captures both the intensity and humanity at the heart of this coming-of-age story.

What stood out most on opening night was the commitment of the entire company. The performances were grounded, honest, and emotionally connected. Students navigated complex characters and difficult themes with maturity, reminding us that this story is not just about conflict - but about identity, belonging, and the choices we make.

Behind the scenes, the technical elements elevated the storytelling in meaningful ways. From the gritty, immersive set design to the impactful lighting and sound, every detail worked together to support the narrative and create a compelling theatrical experience.

This production is a great example of what happens when students are challenged with meaningful material and supported by a dedicated team of educators and designers. The result is not only a strong performance, but an experience that pushes students to grow as artists and collaborators.

The Outsiders continues this weekend in the Maine West Auditorium, with performances running April 23–25 at 7:00 p.m. Get your tickets in advance at mwfinearts.ludus.com.

If opening night is any indication, audiences are in for something special. Stay gold.

Thank you to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters volunteers for helping with ticket scanning and concessions!

Many more pictures can be found HERE.

The program can be found HERE.

Maine West Film Festival & Awards 2026: A Celebration of Student Voice and Vision #207Now @mainewestfab @wmth_west

 

The Maine West Film Festival & Awards night on Monday, April 13th, was a powerful culmination of a year of creativity, collaboration, and storytelling. The event brought together students and families to celebrate the full range of film projects created throughout the year - each one a reflection of student voice, growth, and artistic risk-taking.

From narrative films to documentaries, experimental pieces to collaborative class projects, the festival showcased the depth and diversity of work happening within our media arts program. 

A highlight of the evening was the recognition of student leaders who have helped shape the culture of the program. These students have not only developed their own craft, but have also lifted others - mentoring peers, leading productions, and setting a tone of collaboration and excellence. Their contributions have left a lasting mark on the program and will continue to influence future filmmakers at Maine West.

We also took time to celebrate the senior class, whose body of work represents years of growth, persistence, and passion. Their films tell stories that are personal, thoughtful, and often deeply impactful. More importantly, they leave behind a legacy of creativity and leadership that will continue to raise the bar for years to come.

More pictures from this year's film festival can be found HERE.

Excellence in Action: Mr. Benitez Honored at Scholastic Awards #207Now #excellence #artexhibit @mainewestart @lahartanddesign2 @mainewestfab

 

Maine West is proud to celebrate the outstanding work of first-year art teacher Mr. Chuy Benitez, who was recently recognized at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Chicago Regional Ceremony as one of just eight educators honored for having the highest number of individual student award recipients.

In Photography alone, Maine West students earned recognition in an incredibly competitive field. Out of more than 4,000 total art submissions - over 1,000 of which were Photography - only about 15% received any level of award. Among those, nine Maine West students were recognized, an impressive accomplishment that speaks to both student dedication and strong instruction.

Beyond the classroom, Mr. Benitez also served as the lead coordinator for Maine West’s Scholastic Awards submission process. His organization and leadership helped result in the highest number of student participants and award recipients the school has seen in recent years.

This kind of impact in a first year is remarkable. Thank you, Mr. Benitez, for raising the bar and creating meaningful, high-level opportunities for all of our visual art students!

AP Art Exhibit: A Celebration of Voice, Process, and Growth! #207Now #ap @mainewestart @lahartanddesign2 @mainewestfab

 

The AP Art Exhibit is always one of the most powerful moments of the year, and this year’s show was no exception. Walking through the exhibit, it’s immediately clear that this experience is about so much more than finished pieces - it’s also about the journey each student has taken to get there.

Throughout the year, AP artists are challenged to develop a sustained investigation - digging deeply into ideas, experimenting with materials, and refining their voice. The work on display reflects that commitment. Each piece is part of a larger story, showing not only technical skill, but thoughtful risk-taking, problem-solving, and persistence.

What stands out most is the individuality of each collection. From detailed drawings and expressive paintings to innovative mixed media, digital art and ceramics, every student approached their concentration with a unique perspective. 

Beyond the artwork itself, this exhibit represents growth. These students have learned how to think like artists: to revise, to reflect, and to push their work further with intention. That kind of learning extends far beyond the art room and will serve them in whatever path they choose.

Thank you to our AP Art students for the dedication, creativity, and courage you brought to this work, and to our teachers for guiding and supporting them every step of the way. This exhibit is something to be truly proud of - we hope this is just the beginning of where their artistic journeys will go.

Thank you to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters for your financial support of the reception refreshments.

More photos from the exhibit can be found HERE.

Congratulations to Shane Washington on his State Recognition in Filmmaking! #207Now #excellence @mainewestfab @wmth_west

Maine West continues to shine in the creative arts! We recently learned that student filmmaker Shane Washington has been named a State Finalist in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Electric 18 Film Competition.

Shane’s film, Injury Diaries, offers a personal look at his experience navigating an injury as a runner. Through thoughtful storytelling and strong visual choices, the film captures both the physical and emotional challenges of being sidelined from something you love.

This recognition highlights not only Shane’s talent and dedication, but also the powerful work our student filmmakers are creating every day. We’re excited to see his work recognized at the state level and look forward to what he creates next!

We invite you to watch Injury Diaries below:

Shane will be recognized by the Maine Township Board of Education Meeting for his state qualification on May 4th (Maine South).

Congratulations to West Visual Artists on Their Selection to the CSL Art Exhibit! #207Now #artexhibit #excellence @mainewestart @lahartanddesign2 @mainewestfab

 

A number of Maine West visual art students have been selected for exhibition at this year's Central Suburban League (CSL) Art Exhibit! 

Please join us for a public reception at The Art Center of Highland Park (1957 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, IL) on April 16th from 5:30-7:30 p.m.!

Congratulations to the following students!

JAIME OROZCO	Color Pencil
AISHA MUSIC	Mixed Media
VANESSA KOPEC	Graphite Drawing
ANTONIA GOMEZ	Acyrlic Painting
LUIZA SZERSZENOWICZ	Graphite Drawing
DIONE LOYOLA	Mixed Media
VICTORIA KAMBOUROV	Mixed Media
HENRY HRYHORCHUK	Color Pencil
ABIGAIL SCOTT	Acyrlic Painting
SALINA MITHANI	Mixed Media
BLAKE PREIKSAITIS	Color Pencil
HENRY HRYHORCHUK	Marker
BELLA DUREC	Digital Art
SABEEN SALEH	Digital Art
ABBY GOMEZ TELLO URIAS	Digital Art
DANIELLE ESCOBAR	Digital Art
ADELINA ORTEGA	Digital Art
ISABELA HENRIKSON	Digital Art
GWEN VAN HUIS	Digital Art
RAY COPELAND	Digital Art
MARK DAVID	Digital Art
AISHA MUSIC	Digital Art
ALEXANDRA RIVERA	Digital Art
ANELYA ASANKULOVA	Pastel
PENELOPE SALINAS	Photography
RUTH GONZALEZ	Photography
ANDREY CATALAN	Photography
NATHAN SUCIU	Photography
BELLA DUREC	Photography
LIANA ZAJCZENKO	Photography
MAIA TARASZKA	Photography
LEAH BRATANCH	Photography
KATELYN YZQUIERDO	Photography
ALONA DANIEL	Photography
ALEXIS FAJARDO	Photography
ELISA MURILLO	Photography
SABRINA FOY	Printmaking
NATALIE PABON	Fiber mixed media
VICTORIA DJURICKOVIC	Ceramic
YULIANNA DOVHA	Painted Foam
EDNA CHAVEZ	Ceramic
PAOLA ALVAREZ	Ceramic
LAYLA MILLER	Mixed Media
ARIANNA CLARINO	Ceramic
CHELSEA EBITTY-BOGNAN	Ceramic
LILY GARCEAU	Mosaic
AVIANA VEGA	Ceramic
EIVA SILEIKA	Ceramic
LAILA MORELLI	Ceramic
SYDNEY HOUDEK	Ceramic
ROXY TURADEK	Ceramic
OLIVIA ZOLLI	Mosaic
ARIANA ARZOLA	Mosaic