27 KRESA Career Connect Students Featured in Kalamazoo Institute of Arts High School Area Show

We are incredibly proud to announce that 27 students in our KRESA Career Connect programs have been selected for the prestigious 2026 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts High School Area Show.

Out of hundreds of submissions from across Southwest Michigan, 15 students from our Career & Technical Education (CTE) Design class and 12 from our Education for the Arts (EFA) Visual Arts program were chosen. This is a massive opportunity for them to showcase their work in a professional setting, compete for prizes, and earn life-changing scholarships

The students received $98,000 in scholarships plus cash prizes for their pieces displayed in the show.

The show is open to the public through May 12. Students get free admission.

Congratulations to all of the students for this incredible achievement!

Meet the Featured Artists

 Taylor Ackman (EFA, Gull Lake)

• Piece: “Prior to the Dance”
• Awards: Juror’s Honorable Mention, University of Olivet Visual Art Talent-Based Scholarship, KIA Curator’s Honorable Mention

Kaitlyn Ballesteros (EFA, Comstock)

• Piece: “Raspao”
• Awards: Juror’s Honorable Mention, Kirk Newman Art School Summer Scholarship

Amara Blades (EFA, Parchment)

• Piece: “Symphony of Lights” (Acrylic on canvas)

Sunny Cachero (EFA, Loy Norrix)

• Pieces: “Taking it all in” & “Window With a View”
• Awards: KIA Director’s Award, Kirk Newman Art School Summer Scholarship, College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship, Juror’s Honorable Mention

Mary Cheatham (CTE Design, Portage Central)

• Piece: “Crimson Bloom”
• Awards: College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Jayla Clark (EFA, Loy Norrix)

• Piece: “Her Strength, My Beginning”
• Awards: College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Ja’La Crosby (CTE Design, Kalamazoo Central)

• Piece: “Ja’La’s Sun Bloom”
• Awards: Western Michigan University Gwen Frostic School of Art Scholarship

Henry Deutsch (CTE Design, Kalamazoo Central)

• Piece: “Fortune Cookie Bench”
• Awards: Juror’s Honorable Mention, Kirk Newman Art School Summer Scholarship, College for Creative Studies Pre-College Summer Program Scholarship

Dylan Duguay (CTE Design, Loy Norrix)

• Piece: “Break Something”
• Awards: College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Elise Gougam (CTE Design, Loy Norrix)

• Piece: “Icicle Elegance”

Fari Haidari (CTE Design, Portage Northern)

• Piece: “We are dead and yet alive”
• Awards: Juror’s Honorable Mention, College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Chloe Jacobs (EFA, KPS Virtual)

• Pieces: “Neon Sound” & “Woman in Braids”
• Awards: KIA Curator’s Honorable Mention, College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Annika Johnson (CTE Design, Loy Norrix)

• Pieces: “Joy” & “Elegant”
• Awards: KIA Director’s Award

Jacob Lang (EFA, Comstock)

• Piece: “Ectopic”
• Awards: College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Yogi Patel (EFA, Comstock)

•  Piece: “Before my Light"

Ema Sebestova (EFA, Loy Norrix)

• Piece: “Na Měříně”
• Awards: College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Tristan Scott (EFA, Parchment)

• Pieces: “The Unwelcome Feeling” & “The Prideful Fall”
• Awards: Juror’s Honorable Mention, College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship, KIA’s Director’s Award, University of Olivet Visual Art Talent-Based Scholarship

Ena Song (CTE Design, Portage Central)

• Pieces: “Slowly But Surely” & “Primary Flames”
• Awards: University of Olivet Visual Art Talent-Based Scholarship, College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Rain Standish (CTE Design, Loy Norrix)

• Piece: “Mermaid French Apartment”

Desiree Sturgeon (EFA, Comstock)

• Piece: “Flowers for My Friend”
• Awards: College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Cameron Suarez (CTE Design, Loy Norrix)

• Pieces: “Marlon Funaki Merch and Concert Poster” & “Wonder”
• Awards: KIA Curator’s Honorable Mention, Kirk Newman Art School Summer Scholarship, University of Olivet Visual Art Talent-Based Scholarship, KVCC Center for New Media Scholarship, College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Elliana Tangeman (CTE Design, Portage Central)

• Piece: “Greenhouse Restaurant”
• Awards: College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Xander Vergel (CTE Design, Portage Central)

• Piece: “Streetwear”
• Awards: College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Kaitlyn Weber (CTE Design, Parchment)

• Piece: “Wild Veil”

Vanessa White (CTE Design, Kalamazoo Central)

• Piece: “Grace in Bloom”
• Awards: College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Mekhiah Williams (EFA, Portage Northern)

• Piece: “Mekhiah Reign”
• Awards: College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship

Maria Ysunza (CTE Design, Gull Lake)

• Piece: “Moon View”
• Awards: University of Olivet Visual Art Talent-Based Scholarship, College for Creative Studies Senior Scholarship