For the second consecutive year, Danville Public Schools proudly partnered with Festival in the Park, Inc. to host the City of Danville Student Art Show and Contest during the annual Festival in the Park celebration. Held at the Ballou Recreation Center over the festival weekend, the exhibit featured several hundred student art pieces from across the city, showcasing the creativity and talent of Danville’s youth.
Hundreds of community members visited the display throughout the weekend, enjoying a range of artwork in media, such as drawing, pastels, painting, sculpture, mixed media, and more. Guest judges reviewed the submissions and selected winners, who were officially announced on Sunday.
Below is the list of 2025 winners by school level and category:
Elementary School Winners
Drawing
1st - Sa’Laney Parker, Forest Hills, 5th Grade, Self Portrait
2nd - Braylen Wilson, Park Avenue, 3rd Grade, Can Draw
3rd - Jada Lei Fulton, Gibson, 5th Grade, Untitled
Pastels
1st - Tiffany Rios, Schoolfield, 5th Grade, Greek Pottery
2nd (tie) - Matias Hacker Serrato, Forest Hills, 4th Grade, Starry Night Over Danville
2nd (tie) - Emma Michalski, Forest Hills, 4th Grade, Starry Night Over Danville
Painting (Watercolor)
1st - E’Leigha Lipscomb, Schoolfield, 4th Grade, African Baskets
Mixed Media
1st - Deziray Valentine, Park Avenue, 3rd Grade, Wallpaper Beauty
Sculpture (Paper Mâché)
1st - Allison Ramirez, Park Avenue, 5th Grade, Tropical Fish
Middle School Winners
Drawing
1st - Destiny Vargas-Caston, Westwood, 7th Grade, Braid
2nd (tie) - Elysium Bernard, Virtual Academy, 8th Grade, Landscape
2nd (tie) - Elysium Bernard, Virtual Academy, 8th Grade, Chanson of Many Waters
3rd - Vilium Luong, Westwood, 7th Grade, Dragon
Pastels
1st - Jasmin Soto, Virtual Academy, 8th Grade, It’s a Boy
2nd - Jayden Totton, Bonner, 7th Grade, Georgia O’Keefe Fruit
3rd - Aidan Blackwell-Daniels, Bonner, 8th Grade, Georgia O’Keefe Fruit
Mixed Media
1st - Jasmin Soto, Virtual Academy, 7th Grade, Marine Debris Awareness
2nd - Jasmine Soto, Virtual Academy, 7th Grade, Calavera
Painting (Watercolor)
1st - Chelsea Alvarez Angeles, Bonner, 7th Grade, Untitled
Painting (Acrylic)
1st - Destiny Vargas-Caston, Westwood, 7th Grade, Tyler the Creator
Mosaic
Participation Award - Gracelynn Anderson, Bonner, 7th Grade
High School Winners
Drawing
1st - Noelani Morningstar, Galileo, 12th Grade, Metallic Bow
2nd - Jayla Harden, Galileo, 9th Grade, Yellow/Gold Metallic Bow
3rd - Noelani Morningstar, Galileo, 12th Grade, Divine Apple
Participation - Sarah Doggett, Galileo, 11th Grade, Destruction of Nature
Pastels
1st - Noelani Morningstar, Galileo, 12th Grade, Lit Match 1
2nd - Noelani Morningstar, Galileo, 12th Grade, Lit Match 2
Charcoal
1st - Nick Longerbeam, Galileo, 11th Grade, Skeletor
2nd - Nick Longerbeam, Galileo, 11th Grade, Dave Dayan Mlafo
Painting (Watercolor)
1st - Briana Barton, RISE Academy, 10th Grade, Change is What You Make It
Participation - Lamar Adams, RISE Academy, 11th Grade, Volcano
Painting (Acrylic)
1st - Raniayh Stamps, Galileo, 10th Grade, Beauty and the Blues
2nd - Noelani Morningstar, Galileo, 12th Grade, Van Gogh Sunflowers
3rd - Taylor Glenn, Galileo, 11th Grade, An Autumn Landscape
Participation - Sarah Doggett, Galileo, 11th Grade, Pointe, Diversity
Sculpture
1st - Elin Hedrick, Galileo, 10th Grade, Tree with Swords
Block Printing
1st - Styles Wadsworth, RISE Academy, 9th Grade, Fire Star
Mixed Media
1st - Piya Patel, Galileo, 12th Grade, Textured Peacock
2nd - Iesai Miller, Galileo, 11th Grade, I Must Move
Participation - R. Gonzales, George Washington, 12th Grade, Sun
General Participation Awards
Art Activism - Art 2 & 3 Collaboration, Galileo, Grades 9-12
Dog Man - 5th Grade Art Club, Forest Hills Elementary
This collaborative event continues to spotlight the importance of arts education and community partnerships for the next generation of creators. Festival in the Park and Danville Public Schools look forward to continuing this tradition in future years.