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Student Art Challenge

January 14, 2027

9:00AM to 1:00PM

Villa Maria College

Registration Opens October 26, 2026

Erie 1 BOCES, in partnership with Villa Maria College, welcomes students from school districts across the region ranging from grades 6-12 for the annual Student Art Challenge.

Students are presented with a prompt and have two hours to utilize a medium of their choice to create a finished piece of art. Students do not know what the prompt is prior to the event!

A team of judges representing art institutions and education programs from around Western New York evaluate their works. The judging criteria for the student work consists of categories for creativity, skill, composition, and message. The event concludes with a presentation of awards for the top three pieces in three age divisions.

2027 Student Art Challenge Grant Application

Required

The Erie 1 BOCES Educational Foundation is proud to offer a grant opportunity that will fully cover the cost of up to two registrations for participation in the Erie 1 BOCES Arts in Education Student Art Challenge on January 14, 2027. This annual event brings together student artists, educators, and community members to showcase creativity, collaborate across schools, and celebrate the impact of the arts in education.

This grant supports equitable access to arts opportunities by removing financial barriers for two participating districts. Priority will be given to one Erie 1 BOCES internal registration, and one Erie 1 BOCES component district registration.

Submission Deadline: October 30, 2026

Notification Date: November 13, 2026

Name of Teacher Applicantrequired
First Name
Last Name
School Principal's Name (for reference/approval)required
First Name
Last Name
Have you participated in the Student Art Challenge before?required

Please complete the security verification below.

2027 Art Challenge Overview (click to open)

2027ArtChallengeOverview (PDF)

Congratulations to the 2026 Student Art Competition Winners!

Emerging Artists (Grades 6-8)

First Place – Peyton Schnell (North Tonawanda)

Second Place – Devin Reilly (Iroquois)

Third Place – Jack Nash (Frontier)

Blue BOCES Award – Hailey Thompson (Cheektowaga)

Intermediate Artists (Grades 9-10)

First Place – Keva Wilson (Iroquois)

Second Place – Keating Killelea (Iroquois)

Third Place – Jordan Swanson (Tonawanda)

Blue BOCES Award – Adele Carrion (North Tonawanda)

Advanced Artists (Grades 11-2)

First Place – Amanda Tartick (Springville)

Second Place – Gigi Anner (Erie 1 BOCES Maryvale)

Third Place – Gianna Smith (North Tonawanda)

Blue BOCES Award – Jay Lam (Lancaster)

Teacher Artists

First Place – Marissa Bannister (North Tonawanda)

Second Place – Jason Perna (West Seneca)

Third Place – Christopher Galley (West Seneca)

Past Prompts:

2024 - "Music in Motion"

2025 - "Reflections of Identity"

2026 - "Transformation"

Past Event Photos

The image shows two people, one with long braided hair and the other with curly hair, working on a table with various hair care products and tools.
A person with long dark hair is sitting at a cluttered desk, surrounded by various art supplies and tools, including a large palette of colorful paints.
A young person with curly hair is intently focused on creating a colorful, abstract artwork on a table in what appears to be an art studio or workshop setting.
A young woman is seated at a table, intently focused on creating an artistic work using various painting supplies and materials.
A group of young women are gathered around a table, engaged in various creative activities such as drawing, painting, and using art supplies.
A group of people, including several young women, are gathered around a table displaying various art supplies and drawings, with a large colorful mural featuring a portrait in the background.
Three young women are holding up colorful, artistic paintings or drawings in front of a blue backdrop with the %22Erie Bites%22 logo.
A young boy in a yellow soccer jersey is holding a colorful drawing or poster in his hands, with a warm and friendly expression on his face.
Three young individuals, two females and one male, are standing in front of a blue backdrop displaying the %22Eiclecon%22 logo. The individuals are holding various artistic items, including a framed painting, a tablet, and a guitar, suggesting they may be artists or creative individuals.
Three young women are standing in front of a blue backdrop with the %22Erie Boces%22 logo. The women are holding various items, including a painting, a trophy, and a colorful shirt.
The image shows a group of people working together in what appears to be a classroom or workshop setting, with various tools and materials visible in the background.
The image depicts a classroom setting with several students seated at desks, engaged in various activities such as studying, writing, and using electronic devices. The background shows additional students and what appears to be a teacher or instructor present in the room.
A person is sitting at a desk, working on a computer screen displaying a colorful, abstract digital artwork.
A young person in a pink sweater is intently focused on writing or drawing on a piece of paper while using a laptop computer on a cluttered desk.