Maine West Visual Artists Earn Recognition and Scholarships at Annual IHSAE ArtConnectED Show! #207Now #excellence #scholarships @mainewestfab @mainewestart

The 12th Annual Illinois High School Art Exhibition brings the best student artists from 100 Illinois suburban, public and private high schools to compete and celebrate the power of art in their lives. Six Maine West students were selected to have art displayed in this prestigious art exhibit and competition. The students representing Maine West this year are: 

GENERAL EXHIBIT

Edna Chavez, Ceramics - Gold in the Pottery Category!
Antonia Gomez, Drawing and Painting
Peter Greco, Photography
Ashley Schreyer-Miller, 3D Design - Honorable Mention in the Mixed Media Category!
Luisa Szerszenowicz, Drawing and Painting
Gwyneth Van Huis, Digital Art

SENIOR EXHIBIT

Oiana Dansarunova, Drawing and Painting
Gabriella Trzpiola, Drawing and Painting
Jacqueline Flores, Digital Art
Nicolas Raya, Digital Art
Meilana Fertig, Photography
Nathan Velasco, Photography

These students' works were on display, along with the works of over 500 students artists from across the Chicago region, at the Bridgeport Art Center (1200 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609).

SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP EXHIBITION

Four Maine West senior artists submitted portfolios to the Senior Scholarship Exhibition, an exhibit of some 300 senior artworks and a scholarship program that offers college tuition scholarships totaling over 
$1.9 million dollars!

Students from Maine West were offered significant art scholarships at a variety of colleges and universities, including Iowa State University, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Illinois Wesleyan University, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Illinois State University, Gwen Frostic School of Art at Western Michigan University, and Milliken University. 

The combined dollar amount for scholarships awarded to Maine West artists this year is $1,940,000! 

Congratulations to these scholarship recipients:

Alexander Oropeza Oceguera
Callie Weinert
Gabriella Trzpiola
Jackie Flores
Meilana Fertig
Nathan Velasco
Nicolas Raya
Oiana Dansarunova
Savanah Augustowski
Savannah Krzyda
Skylina Mendez
Sylvester Pillai

We are so proud of these students and their tremendous achievements in the visual arts! Please enjoy some of their work below:

ART THROWDOWN - GWYNETH VAN HUIS

ArtConnectED showcases Illinois high school art student’s talents and passions for the arts annually with virtual and in-person competitions across a wide variety of mediums that provides more students the opportunity to engage and win!

The Art Throwdown is a live, fast-paced, head-to-head, interscholastic Visual Arts competition where students face visually creative challenges for public viewing. Students put their artistic skills to the test, competing against other area Illinois high school students while the audience gets to witness the creative process first hand as they root for their favorites. Each challenge involves a 90 minute, hands-on, and creative problem to be solved. They are held in various art disciplines and media, such as drawing, painting, design, sculpture and digital photography.

Gwyneth Van Huis, an Advanced Digital Art student, represented Maine West in a live model drawing Art Throwdown! Congratulations, Gwyn!

2025 Maine West Film Showcase & Awards #207Now @wmth_west @mainewestfab

 
This year’s Maine West Film Showcase and Awards was a celebration of student creativity, collaboration, and storytelling! The event featured an exciting lineup of projects from each level of our TV and Film classes, representing every single student in our media arts programs and offering a glimpse into the incredible work happening behind the scenes throughout the year.

We also took time to recognize students who stepped up as leaders in our program and those whose films have earned recognition in local and national festivals. Their dedication and talent continue to raise the bar for what’s possible in student filmmaking!

Congratulations to all our filmmakers—you inspire us! A huge thanks to Ms. Fisher for spearheading tonight's celebration!

More pictures from tonight's festivities can be found HERE.

Improv Warriors Spring Showcase #207Now #improv @mainewestdrama @mwactivities @mainewestfab

 

Laughter, quick thinking, and spontaneous creativity will took center stage at the Improv Warriors' Spring Showcase! This highly anticipated event is a celebration of wit, teamwork, and the sheer joy of unscripted performance.

Our talented student performers have been honing their improvisational skills all year, mastering the art of thinking on their feet, building engaging scenes, and working together to create unforgettable moments—all without a script! Through a mix of classic improv games, audience participation, and unexpected twists, the Improv Warriors delivered a night full of hilarity and heart. Special thanks to the senior leaders who led the Improv Warriors this year!

HERE are more pictures from tonight's performance.

3 Maine West Photography Students Honored at Barrington Photography Exhibit #207Now #arteducation @mainewestfab @mainewestart

 

Three Maine West photography students earned distinguished honors at Barrington's Photography Competition. This show was the brainchild of a Barrington High School student, Sophia Wischmeyer, who wanted to organize an event to showcase excellence in high school photography. 

In its inaugural year, the Barrington Photography Exhibit had a theme of "Cinematic & Narrative Shots," and they hosted an awards night on Thursday, March 20th at Barrington High School in the Clair E. Smith Gallery.

The three Maine West students who earned awards are:

Addy DeRusha earned Judge's Choice
Callie Weinert earned 3rd Place Overall
Nathan Velasco earned Judge's Choice

12 schools from around the area participated in this exhibit. Congratulations to Addy, Callie and Nathan and their photography teacher, Ms. Melissa Lloyd!

Winter Guard Community Performance of La Llorona & State Qualification Announcement #207Now #winterguard #statebound @mainewestband @mainewestfab

 

Congratulations to the Maine West Winter Guard on their incredible performance of this year's show, La Llorona, which is based on a well-known folkloric legend traditionally told throughout Mexico, Central America and northern South America. Through the show, the team demonstrated incredible growth of their skill, spinning not just flags, but rifles and sabers! 

After the performance, coach Colyer presented a special video tribute to the graduating seniors, and then family and friends of the seniors presented them each with a rose.

We also have some news...

Impressively, in its second year (go team 2!), we are incredibly proud to announce that...

the Maine West Winter Guard is STATE-BOUND!

Congratulations to the team and to coach Colyer on an amazing achievement! The team will represent West on March 29th at Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park. They are scheduled to perform at 5:15 p.m. Come out to support your Maine West Winter Guard at State!

More pictures from tonight's performance and tribute can be found HERE.

Winter Band Concert #207Now #band #musiceducation @mainewestband @mainewestfab

 

Tonight, students in the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Percussion Techniques performed their Winter Band Concert. The concert took the audience on a thrilling musical journey through the performance of a diverse and dynamic program that showcased their skill and passion.

Bravo to our talented musicians and their director, Mr. Bernie Gerstmayr, for an outstanding performance! Thank you to everyone who joined us—your support means the world!

HERE is the concert program.

HERE are more pictures from tonight's concert.

If you were unable to make it, or would like to watch the concert again, please enjoy the livestream of the concert, produced by the students in WMTH and their teacher, Ms. Rebecca Fisher. Thank you, WMTH!

Tri-M Music Honor Society Induction Ceremony 2025 #207Now #honors @mainewestfab

 

This morning, a record 43 students were initiated into Maine West's chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, the international honor society for student musicians founded right here in Maine Township District 207!

The ceremony was presented by this year's officers: Jamie Daube (President), Emily Wojnicki, Odom Mom, Emma Penumaka and Jaiden Maisonet.

Congratulations to this year's new inductees!

Shanzah Ajmal

Sofia  Aldmeyer 

Adeola Alebiosu

Aisling Blau

Cameron Chelberg 

Lia  Cornelius Hernandez 

Stefano Cullotta

Ellie Debski

Arnav Desai

Nejra Golic

Ginger Griffeth

Julian Guerra

Grace Hartman

Lyla Hoffmann

Ann Mary Jaimy

Alicia  Koladyil 

Kathryn Maag

Chloe Mach

Mateo Maisonet

Maria Martinez

Victoria Naranjo

Caden Nelson

Marcus Pasamba

Kamila Pasnicki

Vinnie Perez

Rosemarie Picchiotti

Millie Ramos

Paul Reyes

Sam Rubio

Michael Serrano

Anay Shah

Piper Taccona

Madison  Thames

Valeria Valdivia 

Gwyneth Van Huis

Danielle Veit

Ivana Veliz

Maya  Wager

Valeria  Wandemberg

Lydia Wetendorf

Melina Wodskow

Penny Wurster

Olivia  Young

More pictures from the ceremony can be found HERE.