Murphy – The Cherokee County Arts Council held an awards ceremony for its annual art show on April 17.
The show had 109 pieces of art from 61 middle and high school students from Andrews Middle School, Murphy Middle School, Hiwassee Dam Middle School, Andrews High School, Murphy High School, Hiwassee Dam High School and the Cherokee County Schools of Innovation.
This art show is designed to create a space for local student artists to showcase their work and have it judged in the competition.
“The Cherokee County Arts Council is honored to support these students and their educators, and to provide a space where young artists can be recognized and encouraged,” council President Rachel Watson said.
The middle school awards had categories for drawing, painting, mixed media, print, 3D and best in show.
The drawing category had winners Aurora Arrowood from Murphy Middle in first place and Amelia Groeger from Andrews Middle in second place.
The painting category Kaylee Hopom from Murphy Middle in first place and Ella Swint from Murphy Middle in second place.
The mixed media category had Elizabeth Parrot from Andrews Middle in first place and Cassidey Pope from Hiwassee Dam Middle in second place.
The print category had Rebekah Wooten from Andrews Middle in first place and Chyann Hooper from Andrews Middle in second place.
The 3D category had Walker Conti from Andrews Middle in first place and Molly Dew from Andrews Middle in second place.
The winner of the Middle School Best in Show was Jayden Patterson from Andrews Middle.
The high school awards had categories for drawing, painting, mixed media, print, 3D and best in show.
The drawing category had winners Halie Hill from Murphy High in first place and Ambree Hawkins from Hiwassee Dam High in second place.
The painting category had Anna Leatherwood from Murphy High in first place and Via Reyes from Andrews High in second place.
The mixed media category had Emma Barney from Hiwassee Dam High in first place and Ella Howard from Murphy High in second place.
The print category had Alexia Jones from Andrews High in first place and Ella Conley from Murphy High School in second place.
The 3D category had Angelica Morris from Hiwassee Dam High in first place and Anna Leatherwood from Murphy High School in second place.
The winner of the High School Best in Show was Anna Claire Lachance from the Schools of Innovation.
Lachance is the High School Best in Show winner for 2025 and 2026 as well as the Middle School Best in Show winner for 2022.
“On her way to prom, Anna Claire (Lachance) arrived, showing up in her hair curlers, full of joy, humility, and dedication to support her work and her peers. That moment perfectly reflects who she is: grounded, gracious, and deeply committed to her craft,” the Cherokee County Schools of Innovation social media page said.
Representatives and faculty from the various schools showed up to support their students and the other participants while celebrating creativity, discipline, excellence and artistic ability throughout Cherokee County.
Lachance has had her work previously exhibited at the N.C. Museum of Art, participated in the global film A Song for Water through Rosetta Life’s Place4Hope initiative and will be attending the prestigious N.C. Governor’s School for Visual Arts over the summer.
Lachance was also the recipient of this year's Marcel and Ellie Lalone Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to a high school senior by Mike Lalone every year at the annual art show in honor of his parents. Marcel and Ellie were always supportive of Mike in his pursuit of the arts, so he awards this scholarship to support young artists in their artistic endeavors.