On Monday March 2^nd Families, educators, and community members were invited out to the Brenau Trustee library to attend the 8^th annual Expressions Art show and awards recognition celebrating the accomplishments of student artists across the Hall County school district and the educators who inspire them.

This event is a powerful reminder of the incredible talent within our schools. It not only celebrates the amazing student artists but also recognizes the dedication of the district’s visual arts teachers, whose guidance, encouragement, and instruction help cultivate creativity and confidence in their classrooms every day.

The faculty and staff at Brenau collaborate and choose a handful of exemplary pieces from every school level to recognize

So it is with great pleasure that I announce the following award recipients

Brenau University Library Art Prize Art that tells a story

• Selected by Trustee Library Selection Committee
• Certificate & Graphic Novel $4,000 Scholarship
• Josue Lopez  Flowery Branch High School Teacher  Hillary Lamb Cabrera

Elementary School Awards –

Selected by Claudia Wilburn, Professor at Brenau University Dept of Art & Design & Students of the Kappa Pi Honors Art Fraternity

Honorable Mention – Certificate  of Achievement & $10 Gift Card

• Cashton Walton, Kindergarten Flowery Branch Elementary School Teacher Amanda Cruce
• Tulsi Lerner, 2nd grade Wauka Mountain Multiple Intelligences Academy Teacher Morgan Smith
• Ellee Harris, 5th grade Flowery Branch Elementary School Hathcock

Expressions 2025 Best in Elementary Art – Certificate of Achievement & $15 Gift Card

• Oliver Whitley, 4th grade Wauka Mountain Multiple Intelligences Academy Morgan Smith

Middle School Awards –

Selected by: Huy Chu, Associate Professor of Art & Design

Honorable Mention – Award Prizes: Certificate of Achievement & $15 Michael’s Gift Card

• Shakeira Monroe, 8th Grade Chestatee Academy Taylor Seay
• Thomas Jones, 6th Grade Cherokee Bluff Middle School Jeannie Sandoval
• Grace Anna Brown, 8th grade Chestatee Academy Taylor Seay

Expressions 2025 Best in Middle School Art – Award Prizes: Certificate of Achievement & $25 Gift Certificate

• Mia Alarcon, 7th Grade Chestatee Academy Taylor Seay

High School Awards

Selected by: Huy Chu, Michael Kleeman, Pryia Pandey & Claudia Wilburn – Faculty at Brenau University from Interior Design, Art & Fashion Programs and Students of the Kappa Pi Honors Art Fraternity

College of Fine Arts & Humanities Honorable Mention –

Award Prizes: Certificate of Achievement, $20 Gift Certificate, & $4,000 Brenau University Scholarship

• Ada Ramos, 12th grade North Hall High School Crystal Singleton

College of Fine Arts & Humanities Achievement Award – Certificate of Achievement,  $40 Gift Certificate, & $5,000 Brenau University Scholarship

• Emerson Napier, 10th Grade Cherokee Bluff High School Summer Brackett
• Khailea Ward, 12th grade North Hall High School Crystal Singleton
• Thalia Guerro, 11th Grade Johnson High School  Michelle Milder
• Alex Erickson, 11th Grade North Hall High School Crystal Singleton

Expressions 2026 Best in Show Best in Show Trophy $50 Gift Certificate $6,000 Brenau University Scholarship

• Charli Shroyer, 9th Grade Johnson High School Erica Watson
• Romina Arellano, 12th Grade Johnson High School Erica WatsonPeoples choice Elementary Oliver Whitley

  Peoples choice Middle April Navarrete

  Peoples choice High Juan Leon Gutierrez