THOMASVILLE- Two Thomasville Scholar Academy students were recently awarded for their land, water and sky depictions in the Jr. Wildlife Arts Competition for High School students. 

Teacher Ashley Ivey-Jackson said the Jr. Wildlife Arts Competition was put on years ago, but took a hiatus. However, when it was announced it would open up again this year, her students were thrilled. 

The art competition called for the students to create any artwork of this year’s Wildlife Arts Festival’s theme “Land, Water and Sky” in Thomasville.

Hannah Hawkins, a sophomore at The Scholar’s Academy and second place winner said she was inspired by quail she saw, when visiting her family farm in Metcalf. 

“We rode out there one morning and there were a bunch of quail running through the grass,” she said. “Quail hunting is very popular in Thomasville and I just thought it was a good representation of Thomasville.” 

In order to portray her quail, Hawkins crafted a mixed media portrait, using cutouts from Thom Magazine.

While Hawkins’ collage work was impressive, it was junior Kelon Vaughan who would really grab the judge’s attention with his graphite depiction of Thomasville’s Big Oak. 

“I was inspired by the beauty of the Big Oak and how it’s this big symbol of Thomasville,” he said. “We always see pictures of it from behind, but up close it’s this really uniformed tree. I wanted to show the intensity of the limbs.” 

With the competition also nearing the date of Halloween, Vaughan said he was able to use graphite in his favor to make the picture seem spooky. 

His entry surpassed anything else the judges saw, awarding him first place of fifty dollars and one hundred dollars to the Scholar’s Academy Art Department. 

“I was really shocked I won,” Vaughan said. “It was definitely a surprise.” 

Ivey-Jackson said she was incredibly proud of the students, as many great works were submitted. 

“They worked really hard and they deserved it,” she said. 

Hawkins thanked Ivey-Jackson and acknowledged that everyone submitted great pieces and tried really hard to incorporate the theme into their work. 

While the competition was all in good-natured fun, it has made Vaughan consider his future in art. He said he has considered a degree in Marketing with a focus in Graphic Design, so he can incorporate his artistic side as well. 

For Hawkins, this is her first year of art, and right now she is using it as a way to express herself. 

The duo both said they hope the Center for the Arts continues to host the competition, as they would love to re-enter next year.