SKYCTC Student Art Exhibition Winners Announced at Inaugural Event
Bowling Green, KY – Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) celebrated the grand opening of its new art gallery with the debut of the 2026 Student Juried Exhibition, showcasing the creative talents of its students. A reception and awards ceremony was held in the gallery on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, where this year’s winners were announced.
This year’s award winners (pictured below) were:
- Best of Show: Seb Walden, Roadkill!
- First Place: Shane Minton, Rock Wars
- Second Place: Ty Tzoras, Wonderstruck in Blue
- Third Place: Matthew Depp, Epiphany of Bliss
- Merit Award: Zachary Ballard, Skeletal Reconstruction
- Merit Award: Avery Carr, The Fox
- Merit Award: Faith Hendrix, The Eye of the Sun
- Merit Award: Anna Kate Simpson, Heavenly Body
- Honorable Mention: Greg Simmons, Little Cowboy Big Dreams
The SKYCTC Art Gallery’s inaugural exhibition features a diverse collection of student
artwork, highlighting exceptional pieces created in studio art courses as well as
independent projects. The 2026 Student Juried Exhibition opened April 13 and includes
works across a variety of media, including oil painting, photography, and collage.
The exhibition received 65 entries from 39 SKYCTC students, with 42 works selected for display by juror Abbi Ruppert, Art Program Coordinator at Owensboro Community and Technical College. The selected works represent a wide range of artistic styles and techniques, reflecting both classroom projects and independent creative exploration.
“The new gallery space is providing a professional space for students to exhibit their work,” said David Jones, Art Professor at SKYCTC. “It will give access to other visiting artists’ work to be experienced by the students, the college, and the community as well.”
“We are thrilled to open this new gallery as a cultural resource for both our campus and the surrounding community,” said Gallery Director Leslie Nichols. “Showcasing student work at the heart of the inaugural exhibition has energized the campus. The show highlights our students’ creativity, dedication, and artistic growth, and we are proud to celebrate and share their talents with the public.” Awards totaling $600 were presented by sponsor Service One Credit Union, including a Best of Show honor.
The SKYCTC Art Gallery aims to serve as a dynamic space for artistic expression, collaboration, and community engagement, further enriching the cultural landscape of the region.
For more information about the exhibition or the SKYCTC Art Program, please contact:
Leslie Nichols, leslie.nichols@kctcs.edu
David Jones, cdavid.jones@kctcs.edu
