Northwestern Visual Arts Honors Inaugural Red Dirt Review Art Show Winners

January 8, 2026

ALVA, Okla. — Winners of the inaugural Red Dirt Review High School Art Show were honored at the show’s opening reception in Gallery Sophia in Jesse Dunn at Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Dec. 5.

The Reichenberger Department of Fine Arts Wisdom Family Foundation Visual Arts Program sponsored this event for local high school students.

Juanita Hernandez, Guymon senior, and her project “Bound to Thee,” an ink and watercolor on watercolor paper, earned the $500 President’s Scholarship award for Best in Show.

Award winners in each category received art materials to use on their future projects, along with Northwestern scholarships.

Category winners, their classifications, high schools and project names include:

Ceramics

Ceramic wall hanging featuring a blue crescent moon, pink star, and yellow sun with radiating rays against a dark blue background.
First Place: Martina Alfonso, Woodward sophomore, “Night and Day”

Ceramic sculpture of a mushroom-shaped house with a brown cap and cylindrical base with a rounded doorway, displayed on a circular wood slice base covered with moss.
Second Place: Jaqueline Gines, Woodward senior, “Mushroom House”

Ceramic sculpture of a small house with a red mushroom-shaped roof and chimney, set on a circular wood slice base covered with moss.
Third Place: Rylee McDowell, Woodward junior, “Folkware Home”

Drawing

White charcoal and pastel drawing on black paper showing a figure suspended in a life preserver on dark water, with arms extended and glowing effects.
First Place: Kyndall Ray, Oklahoma Bible Academy junior, “Art is My Rescue,” white charcoal and pastel on black paper

Pointillism marker drawing depicting a figure standing in a doorway, created entirely with small dots in black and gray tones.
Second Place: Jaylece Martin, Woodward junior, “Dark Corners,” pointillism marker

White charcoal drawing on black paper showing a historical scene with multiple figures, including a person in 18th-century attire gesturing near what appears to be cannons or artillery equipment.
Third Place: Will Menasco, Oklahoma Bible Academy junior, “The Rule,” white charcoal on black paper

Mixed Media

Graphite and charcoal drawing of a woman in traditional geisha style with an elaborate updo hairstyle adorned with a red ornament, shown in three-quarter profile.
First Place: Avery Bilyeu, Woodward senior, “Geisha”

Mixed media artwork depicting a figure lying on their back viewed from above, surrounded by blue eye shapes arranged in a circular pattern, with detailed linework on the central figure.
Second Place: Jocelyn Wilson, Woodward junior, “‘Swamped in Scrutiny’ (A Representation of Stage Fright)”

Wood burning artwork of a mountain lion in a crouched position on a wooden surface, rendered with detailed texture through pyrography technique.
Third Place: Owen Vermillion, Alva sophomore, “Mountain Lion”

Painting

Painting of a figure reclining on a bed in a room with vibrant yellow and pink patterned wallpaper and blue-green textured walls.
First Place: Jadyn Tapp, Woodward junior, “Hazel”

High contrast artwork in red and black tones depicting a person's face and raised hand in profile view.
Second Place: Alexa Lares, Woodward junior, “Lisandro”

Painting featuring a textured strawberry design in red with white details against a rainbow-colored background.
Third Place: Holly Evatt, Oklahoma Bible Academy freshman, “Sweet Things”

Photography

Photograph of railroad tracks leading through a tunnel toward bright light at the end, with wooden railroad ties in the foreground and foliage visible in the illuminated opening.
First Place: Relina Sibok, Oklahoma Bible Academy junior, “A New Beginning”

Second Place: Gio Causor, Oklahoma Bible Academy junior, “Fruit of the Grave”

Black and white photograph of a person wearing Day of the Dead face paint with decorative skull designs, a flower crown, and ornamental hair accessories with vertical elements.
Third Place: Sara Tellez Blanco, Kingfisher senior, “Dear Catrina”

For more information on future art shows, contact Thomas Cornell, assistant professor of visual arts, at tacornell@nwosu.edu or (580) 327-8111 or visit the Wisdom Family Foundation Visual Arts Program online.

-NW-

Media Contact:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
Email: sjdoherty@nwosu.edu
Phone: (580) 327-8480