70th Otero Arts Festival Showcases Student Talent Across Southeast Colorado, Announces 2026 Winners
Description: Photo Description: Community members peruse the art displayed during the Otero Arts Festival. Otero College’s 70th Arts Festival highlights student talent in writing, music, and visual arts, with winners announced from schools across Southeast Colorado.
Published: 04/15/2026
Byline: SECO News
Otero College Celebrates 70th Annual Arts Festival with 2,000+ Student Entries and 2026 Winners
Seventy years ago, the Otero Arts Festival began as a small art contest designed to give middle and high school students an opportunity to showcase their artistic talents. Today, the festival—sponsored by Otero College—has grown into one of the longest-running and most celebrated student arts events in Southeast Colorado, highlighting excellence in visual arts, music, theatre, and creative writing.
The 70th Annual Otero Arts Festival continued this proud tradition, drawing more than 2,000 entries in recent years and showcasing the creativity of students from across the region. This year alone, the festival featured over 130 creative writing entries, 6 creative books, 26 musical performances, 21 visual arts senior portfolios, and hundreds of visual art pieces displayed throughout the week in the Rizzuto Banquet Room.
Winners were recognized during the official Awards Ceremony on April 2.
Judges for this year's festival included:
Music: James Lind and Dean Rees
Visual Arts: Zeke Ayala and Cody Miell
Creative Writing: CSU-Pueblo President's Leadership and Honors Program students
In this year's Creative Writing competition, students across grade levels 7-12th were honored in Poetry, Essays, and Short Stories, demonstrating exceptional creativity and depth of expression. In the Music competition students competed in vocal solos, ensembles, and instrumental performances, with La Junta Jr/Sr High School and Swink Schools strongly represented among the winners. The Visual Arts competition once again filled the Rizzuto Banquet Room with hundreds of student works. In addition to top awards, numerous first-through-honorable mention awards were given.
Creative Writing Winners, 2026
Overall Best Work – Junior Division
Winner: Brendon Sniff, "I'm NOT the Plot" — Walsh RE1 (Instructor: Pamela Batterton)
Overall Best Work – Senior Division
Winner: Samantha McCoy, "The Bag Between the Boots" — Cheraw High School (Instructor: Timothy Snyder)
Maria Lavin, Recipient of the Otero College Creative Writing Scholarship
Scholarship Winner
Winner: Maria Lavin — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Julie Meiklejohn)
Scholarship Alternate
Winner: Bella Ortiz — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
Creative Books
Best Overall Book: Conner Prindavong, "Diary of Elaine" — Swink Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
Most Original Book: Bobbijo Lindt, "A Few Broken Years with a Few Broken Pieces" — Swink Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
Most Creative Book: Abigail Hill, "King of Hearts Tour" — Swink Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
Best Storyline Book: Analeia Hand, "Patch Work" — Swink Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
Honorable Mention: Miley James, "Cattle Trails and Poetic Tales" — Swink Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
Senior Portfolios
1st Place: Maria Lavin — Six; Laws Criminalizing LGBT+ are Hate Crimes; Siblings or Lovers — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Julie Meiklejohn)
2nd Place: Bella Ortiz — A Beast of Snow; The Mystery of Love; Scars of Time — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
3rd Place: Tyler Fehrenbach — WW1 Poem; Robber Barons; The Mystery Man — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
4th Place: Oakley Jones — Growing Up; Figuring It Out; "Have You Seen ___" — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Julie Meiklejohn)
Honorable Mention: Juan Murillo — Guilt; Cause and Effect; Chaos Approaching — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
Poetry
7th Grade Poetry
1st Place: Kamiah Tapia, "Who Deserves It?" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Tamara Mameda)
2nd Place: Addyson Yeager, "Broken" — Walsh RE1 (Instructor: Pamela Batterton)
3rd Place: Cheris Cockrum, "Hero in a Bird Cage" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Tamara Mameda)
Honorable Mention: Gia Chavez, "Heartful Poem" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Tamara Mameda)
8th Grade Poetry
1st Place: Brendon Sniff, "I'm NOT the Plot" — Walsh RE1 (Instructor: Pamela Batterton)
2nd Place: Esperanza Lopez, "Demands" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Tamara Mameda)
3rd Place: Grace Morlan, "The Willow Tree" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Tamara Mameda)
Honorable Mention: Daniel Estrada Cortez, "The Rebellion" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Tamara Mameda)
9th Grade Poetry
1st Place: Abigail Tyler, "Insecurities" — Swink Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
2nd Place: Easton Bonds, "Basketball" — Fowler High School (Instructor: Emily Moreland)
3rd Place: Tanya Diaz, "Healing Isn't Pretty" — Manzanola J3 (Instructor: Alicia Crum)
Honorable Mention: Rox-c Rodriguez, "Spanish" — Fowler High School (Instructor: Emily Moreland)
10th Grade Poetry
1st Place: Avila'lee Twyeffort, "Addiction" — Walsh RE1 (Instructor: Pamela Batterton)
2nd Place: Douglas Hetrick, "Love?" — Walsh RE1 (Instructor: Pamela Batterton)
3rd Place: Miles Turner, "The Game's Beauty" — Swink Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
Honorable Mention: Kaileah Aragon, "A Silent Plea" — Swink Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
11th Grade Poetry
1st Place: Daniel Duran, "The Spotted Wonder" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
2nd Place: Joaquin Romero, "A Nation Learning Its Voice" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
3rd Place: William Carnes, "All Life Has an Expiration Date" — Fowler High School (Instructor: Paige Lower)
Honorable Mention: Evan Culver, "Holiday Poem" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
12th Grade Poetry
1st Place: Emma Ayala Lucero, "Bristol Lake" — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Julie Meiklejohn)
2nd Place: Jennifer Trujillo, "The Beauty of Nature" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
3rd Place: Quianna Ruiz, "What Happens When We Grow Up" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
Honorable Mention: Vincent Montoya, "Rancor" — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Julie Meiklejohn)
Essays
7th & 8th Grade Essays
No entries submitted.
9th Grade Essay
1st Place: Kenzie Raines, "What It Means to Be a Kid" — Cheraw High School (Instructor: Timothy Snyder)
2nd Place: Allie Johnson, "The Hunger Games" — Fowler High School (Instructor: Emily Moreland)
3rd Place: Katie Pickering, "An Independent Teen" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
Honorable Mention: Timothy Ballantyne, "Study Advice" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
10th Grade Essay
1st Place: Conner Prindavong, "Going Mad: Tried and True" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
2nd Place: Rio Jensen, "How to Avoid Doing Your Homework" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
3rd Place: Adrianna Goodwin, "The Mistake" — Fowler High School (Instructor: Paige Lower)
Honorable Mention: Wyatt Olds-Johnson, "The 6-Point Buck" — Fowler High School (Instructor: Paige Lower)
11th Grade Essay
1st Place: Allison DePriest, "Thunderstorms" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
2nd Place: Brilye Lovato, "Our Canine and Feline Friends Explained" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
3rd Place: Louie Medina Jr, "La Junta, The Railroad Town" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
Honorable Mention: Joaquin Romero, "American Revolution Battles and Military" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
12th Grade Essays
1st Place: Bruley McCuistion, "Technology as a Double-Edge Sword" — Fowler High School (Instructor: Paige Lower)
2nd Place: Haylee Encinias, "Through His Eyes, I Learned to See" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
3rd Place: Quianna Ruiz, "If Only We Had Met in Another Universe" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
Honorable Mention: Jizella Olmedo, "The Ending of a Chapter" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
Short Stories
7th Grade Short Stories
No entries submitted.
8th Grade Short Stories
1st Place: Xander Shultz, "Happy Third Anniversary" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Tamara Mameda)
2nd Place: Daniel Estrada Cortez, "Eddy's Shades" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Tamara Mameda)
3rd Place: Mimi Chavez, "My School Life" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Tamara Mameda)
9th Grade Short Stories
1st Place: Abigail Tyler, "The Break-In" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
2nd Place: Kaylee Clodfelter, "Sleepovers" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
3rd Place: Trista Tomky, "Camping" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
10th Grade Short Stories
1st Place: Nik Chowning Nonato, "How Long?" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
2nd Place: Bella Hagerman, "Project Elec" — Fowler High School (Instructor: Paige Lower)
3rd Place: Gunner Houston, "1992" — Fowler High School (Instructor: Paige Lower)
Honorable Mention: Rio Jensen, "The Hail Storm" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Bonnie Grossen)
11th Grade Short Stories
1st Place: Samantha McCoy, "The Bag Between the Boots" — Cheraw High School (Instructor: Timothy Snyder)
2nd Place: Isabella Alwin, "Blank Pages" — Cheraw High School (Instructor: Timothy Snyder)
3rd Place: William Carnes, "Creak" — Fowler High School (Instructor: Paige Lower)
Honorable Mention: Lorelai Woods, "The Chicken and the Chaos" — Fowler High School (Instructor: Paige Lower)
12th Grade Short Stories
1st Place: Jasiah Smith, "Call of the Forest" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
2nd Place: Haylee Encinias, "Out in Omaha" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
3rd Place: Quianna Ruiz, "The Wrong Flavor" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
Honorable Mention: Julius Martinez, "Wrestling with the Sport" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Bea Jae Viescas)
Music Winners, 2026
Best Musician – Junior Division
Winner: Brylie Schmidt — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Best Musician – Senior Division
Winner: Beniah Trujillo — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Scholarship Winner
Winner: Maria Lavin — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Scholarship Alternate
Winner: Audrey Leitner — Swink Schools (Instructor: Anne Savage)
Junior Division
Vocal Solo
1st Place: Brylie Schmidt — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
2nd Place: Kenzie Grasmick — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Instrumental Solo
1st Place: Achilles Mascarenas — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Jacob Martinez)
Senior Division
Vocal Solo
1st Place: Gianna Ayala — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
2nd Place: Audrey Leitner — Swink Schools (Instructor: Anne Savage)
3rd Place: Emma Mason — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Honorable Mention: Kaitlyn Kinder — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Vocal Ensemble
1st Place:
Thane Sullivan — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Zyana Gendreau-Croskey — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
2nd Place:
Charlize Pearson — Swink Schools (Instructor: Anne Savage)
Audrey Leitner — Swink Schools (Instructor: Anne Savage)
3rd Place:
Christian Cruz — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Dineah Moreno — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Honorable Mention:
Prisceyiss Urban — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Kaitlyn Kinder — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Instrumental Solo
1st Place: Beniah Trujillo — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
2nd Place: Bailey Glover — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Jacob Martinez)
3rd Place: Joshua Martinez — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Jacob Martinez)
Honorable Mention: Landon Fischer — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Jacob Martinez)
Instrumental Ensemble
1st Place:
Karimen Lavin — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
Maria Lavin — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kristin Golding-Langston)
2nd Place:
Mikayla Martinez — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Jacob Martinez)
Oakley Jones — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Jacob Martinez)
3rd Place:
Mia Jimenez — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Jacob Martinez)
Kaylyn Martinez — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Jacob Martinez)
Visual Arts Winners, 2026
Best of Show
Senior Division: Kashlyn Blasingame, "Streets in the Shadows" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Crystal Cuckow)
Junior Division: Maria Lavin, "NPD" — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Angel Ramos
Judge's Awards
Judge's Choice:
Nevaeh Gonzales, "Circus Dog" — Manzanola High School (Instructor: Daniel Johnson)
Julius Martinez, "ASAP" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Cindy Von Feldt)
Judge's Selection:
Nevaeh Gonzales, "Angry Kitty" — Manzanola High School (Instructor: Daniel Johnson)
Alizabeth Sandoval, "Garden of Willows" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Cindy Von Feldt)
President's Award
Audrey Leitner, "Second Star to the Right" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Crystal Cuckow)
McKinzie Gonzales, "Betty White" — Las Animas High School (Instructor: Harry Marlow)
Visual Arts Senior Portfolio
1st Place: Maria Lavin — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Angel Ramos)
2nd Place: Nevaeh Gonzales — Manzanola High School (Instructor: Daniel Johnson)
3rd Place: Julius Martinez — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Cindy Von Feldt)
4th Place: Emily Malec — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Angel Ramos)
Honorable Mention: Josslyn Marx — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Angel Ramos)
Scholarships and Special Awards
Otero College Scholarship
Recipient: Maria Lavin — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Angel Ramos)
Alternate: Nevaeh Gonzales — Manzanola High School (Instructor: Daniel Johnson)
Fine Arts League Awards
Senior Portfolio Award: Julius Martinez, "ASAP" — Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Cindy Von Feldt)
Senior Division
Kashlyn Blasingame, "Streets in the Shadows" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Crystal Cuckow)
Dallee Nichols, "Untitled" — Las Animas High School (Instructor: Harry Marlow)
Junior Division
Jayden Uloa, "Cool" — La Junta Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Kirk Shiflett)
Nick Rusler, "Sunset" — Fowler Jr/Sr High School (Instructor: Rebecca Catherina)
Southeast Colorado Creative Partnership
Chris Johnson, "Senior Portfolio" — Tiger Trades Academy (Instructor: Marianne Hale)
Audrey Leitner, "Senior Portfolio" — Swink Schools (Instructor: Crystal Cuckow)
For seven decades, the Otero Arts Festival has provided a platform for young artists to explore their talents, build confidence, and share their voices with the community. The continued growth of the festival reflects the strength of arts education in Southeast Colorado and the dedication of educators, students, and community supporters.
"Otero College is proud to continue this long-standing tradition," festival coordinator, Malorie McNames, shared. "The talent, creativity, and passion displayed by these students is truly inspiring and speaks to the importance of the arts in education."
Otero College extends its sincere appreciation to all participating students, instructors, judges, and community partners who helped make the 70th Annual Otero Arts Festival a success.
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