Joliet, IL – Students from Joliet Central High School are gaining statewide recognition after earning a combined $1,408,000 in college scholarships at one of the nation’s largest high school art exhibitions this spring.
According to event organizers, the 13th Annual Illinois High School Art Exhibition (IHSAE) ran from Friday, March 14 through Friday, April 18 at the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago, Cook County. The event featured about 1,000 student artists from more than 125 high schools across Illinois and offered access to over $71 million in annual scholarship opportunities.
Several Joliet Central students were selected to showcase their work, including Amber Davis, Madelyn Gloodt, Angela Guzman, Rauri O’Hara, Mia Cardenas, and Mayte Perez Serrato. Additional students participated in specialized categories such as the Early College Program and Senior Scholarship Exhibition, highlighting a broad range of artistic talent from the Will County school.
The school also earned a Top 20 Scholarship Schools Award, with individual honors going to Rauri O’Hara for an Honorable Mention in Mixed Media and Tayla Stallings for an Outstanding Achievement in Portfolio Quality Award.
Art teachers Nyssa Grzyb and Rachel LaVine credited the students’ dedication and growth for the achievement. Grzyb noted that students are developing both technical skills and creative voices, while LaVine emphasized the importance of connecting art to future college and career pathways.
The IHSAE, organized by ArtConnectED, also includes a college fair and career exploration opportunities, giving students direct access to higher education programs in the arts.
This year’s results place Joliet Central among the top-performing schools in Illinois, reinforcing the role of arts education in shaping student success across the Chicago metro area.
