Horton High School Students Shine at 2026 NEK League Art Competition
Horton High School art students recently participated in this year’s Northeastern Kansas (NEK) League Art Competition held at Effingham High School on Friday, May 1st. This annual event brought together student artists from across the league, providing an opportunity to showcase their creative talents while competing among other area schools.
Horton High School students demonstrated exceptional artistic skill and dedication, earning recognition across multiple categories. Seventeen Horton High School art students earned first-place awards in areas such as graphite drawing, charcoal, linoleum printmaking, palette knife painting, and more. Students receiving first-place recognition include Jocelyn McKinney, Ayden Schwed, Arillyn Kimmi, Alexis Jordan, Emma Sampson, Abby Jenkins, Adaylee Welch, Danie White, and Ashlynn Schwed. Five of this year’s submissions were artworks created through the Visiting Artist Grant funded partially through the National Endowment of the Arts.
Students earning second-place awards for their entries include Bethanie Kagle, Ashlynn Schwed, Jasmine Huerta, Chenoa Thomas, Rebecca Anderson, Marlyssa Banks, and Marissa Bunck. In addition, students receiving Honorable Mention recognition include Adaylee Welch, Dakota Norman, and Rose Jim.
A highlight of the competition was the team-based design challenge, where Horton High School art students were awarded first place for their creative and visually striking entry titled TEAM – Wizard of Oz: Recycled Wizard of Oz Fashions. Using recycled and found materials, students designed original fashion pieces inspired by characters from the classic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Horton High School student Emma Sampson served as the live model, presenting the design to judges during the event.
The NEK League Art Competition serves as the first step in a sequence of competitive opportunities for student artists, preparing them for advancement to regional and state-level exhibitions. Through this experience, students not only present their work publicly but also engage with the artwork of their peers, gaining inspiration and insight into a variety of artistic approaches and techniques.
Horton High School art teacher Mrs. Krogmann submitted a strong collection of student work, reflecting months of creative development and studio practice. The event provided students with valuable feedback from judges, whose evaluations focused on quality of craftsmanship, originality, technical application, and clarity of artistic intent, encouraging students to continue developing their abilities and to keep contributing their unique perspectives, helping make the world a more vibrant and engaging place for everyone. Judges also emphasized how our art students make the world a better place, noting that creativity is one of the most important ways individuals grow as people. Judges also shared that art plays an important role in shaping creative thinking and innovation, reminding students that artistic expression helps ideas grow and develop in meaningful ways. Participation in events like the NEK League Art Competition gives students the opportunity to build confidence, strengthen their skills, and continue growing as artists with each new experience as they move forward to regional and state competitions.
2026 Regional Art Competition at Highland Community College
In addition to their success at the league level, Horton High School art students also performed exceptionally well at the 2026 Regional Art Competition on Thursday, April 15th, where they competed against 45 schools from across Kansas. Their work stood out among a highly competitive field, demonstrating strong technical skill, creativity, and originality across a wide range of media. Students receiving Artistic Excellence honors were Jocelyn McKinney, Ashlynn Schwed, and Dakota Norman. Students earning Honorable Mention recognition included Ashlynn Schwed and Danie White. Participation at the regional level provided students with the opportunity to showcase their artwork on a larger stage, gain further insight from judges, and continue building confidence as they advance in their artistic journey.
