photo by: Joselyn King

Sophia Trabert, a 5th grade student at Bethlehem Elementary School, shows the artwork she had on display at the “Celebration of the Arts” event Thursday at Wheeling Park High School.

WHEELING — Ohio County Schools art teachers couldn’t help but gush as the public gazed upon the works of their students that were on display.

The school district hosted its annual “Celebration of the Arts” Thursday night at Wheeling Park High School featuring performances by music students, as well as displays of art from students at all grade levels in Ohio County Schools.

“The best part of my job is seeing the reaction of the students when they see their work and say, ‘I did this’ — and then seeing the people looking at their works,” said WPHS art teacher Russ Schultz.

“That is the best part of the job — seeing kids come in and just blossom. It’s wonderful.”

Schultz specifically lauded his senior art students, whose talent caught the eyes of both those in attendance at WPHS, as well as college art programs. Senior art students at Wheeling Park High School this year collectively earned about $250,000 in scholarships.

“This is probably the most talented senior class we ever had,” Schultz said. “The work they are producing is better than anything we ever had before.”

He spoke of senior Juliette Manukin, who received an $84,000 scholarship to the Columbus School of Art and Design — one of the most prestigious art schools in the country. Another senior, Mo Smith, received an art achievement scholarship at West Virginia University among other WVU scholarships.

Others were offered “almost full rides” to West Liberty University and Marshall universities, while others have been offered partial scholarships to WVU.

photo by: Joselyn King

Members of the public take in the work of student artists during the Ohio County Schools “Celebration of the Arts” event Thursday at Wheeling Park High School.

At the middle school level, teacher Cynthia Stahanczyk at Triadelphia Middle School said she enjoys “the excitement in a students’ eyes when they have created a beautiful artwork of which they are proud, and didn’t realize they could achieve.”

“Just watching the artwork through their eyes, and seeing it come to fruition, is amazing,” she continued. “You can never have too much excitement.

“I feel I’ve fostered the children and nurtured them, and I’ve shown them the skills to use to create these masterpieces. But the creation is 100% them. It’s their creation.”

One of her students, eighth grader Kenzo Putra, was awarded first place at the state level in the Youth Art Month State Competition Art Show earlier this month.

He said he doesn’t know what first interested him in art, and indicated he just felt like he was born to do it. He does know what kind of art he most likes to do.

“I like realism, because it is really cool,” he said.

Nicole Clara, also a Triadelphia student, explained she first decided she loved art and was born to do it when she was 6 years old.

“I would go to the art competitions, and I would always win first place,” she said.

Ellen Culler, art teacher at Elm Grove and Bethlehem elementary schools, added she most enjoys that “ah-ha” moment students express when they “get it” and their artistic abilities begin to shine through.

“Something that is exciting to see is the middle school students progressing from the elementary, and then high school students progressing from the middle school,” she said. “Seeing their work at the high school, knowing that it started here at the elementary, that is a real source of pride.

“I believe it starts at the kindergarten level when we are planting that seed, and we continue to watch that bud grow and just prosper into what these kids’ skill levels are in high school.”

Among Culler’s students are three siblings – Sophia, Emma and Easton Trabert of Bethlehem.

Sophia, a fifth grade student, said she likes to do “the messy art” the best, especially clay. Her work on display was an oil and pastel painting.

Sister Emma, in grade 4, was asked what inspired her to like art.

“Mrs. Culler’s class, and just doing it,” she answered.

“I was just interested in art once I saw it,” added her brother Easton, grade 3.