“After the Squeeze” (above) by Jaya Smith of Carmi-White County High School was the top winner in the 2D art category of the 2026 Creative Futures online high school art contest sponsored by the SIU School of Art and Design. Other winners were Joel Duncan of Belleville East High School in 3D art and Georgia Hale of Marion High School in the design/digital art category. (Images provided)
April 03, 2026
Three Illinois high school students win 2026 SIU Creative Futures art awards[
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The talent and artistic skills of Illinois High School juniors and seniors were on full display at the third annual Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Art and Design statewide online art competition.
SIU faculty selected the top finishers in each of the three categories in this year’s Creative Futures art competition. The categories were — 2D art (painting, drawing, printmaking and photography), 3D art (ceramics, glass, metals and sculpture), and design and digital art (web/graphic design, industrial design, animation and video).
Travis Janssen, assistant director and associate professor in the School of Art and Design, said the caliber of work with this year’s submissions “was particularly high, especially in the 2D category.”
“It’s exciting to see what subject high school students are selecting for their art,” he said. “The level of diversity is particularly notable.”
Antonio Martinez, associate professor and head of undergraduate studies in the School of Art and Design, said the competition is a “wonderful platform that celebrates and promotes the emerging creative talent of high school artists as well as their art teachers within Illinois.”
“The growing success is owed to high school art teachers who recognize the academic promise of their students,” Martinez said. “Their students could benefit tremendously in advancing their talents and expertise at SIU's School of Art and Design, whether they choose to major or minor in any of our several academic disciplines.”
The competition provided nearly $14,000 in scholarships available for students who attend SIU Carbondale and the School of Art and Design.
“Not only is the exhibition an excellent opportunity to connect with potential SIU students, it has also been a good way to connect with art teachers across the state,” Janssen said.
The scholarships the students receive represent “our commitment in building and supporting future pathways for promising young artists to come to SIU,” Martinez said. “We appreciate the donors and key stakeholders who have worked on the administrative level with financing and coordinating this initiative.”
The online exhibition of the 30 overall finalists is available for viewing through Jan. 10, 2027.
The honored students are:
2D art
- First place — Jaya Smith, Carmi-White County High School, Carmi.
- Second place — Adelyn Rollins, Pleasant Plains High School, Pleasant Plains.
- Third place — Jazmeen Ankrum, Marion High School, Marion.
3D art
- First place — Joel Duncan, Belleville East High School, Belleville.
- Second place — Kurt Petric, Anna-Jonesboro Community High School, Anna.
Design, digital art
- First place — Georgia Hale, Marion High School, Marion.
- Second place — Eden King, Pleasant Plains High School, Pleasant Plains.
3D art winner - Joel Duncan
Design, digital art winner - Georgia Hale