By Marisa Ellis
Circulation Manager
The Manhattan Beach Rotary Club hosted the Rotary Craftsman Program awards ceremony where Mira Costa visual art teachers acknowledged 18 students for their artistic talents in departments including art, ceramics, woodwork and photography on Mar. 14 in the Costa cafeteria.
The Rotary Club is an organization consisting of adults in the community who encourage compassion and peace around the community. The purpose of the program to honor these students who demonstrated overall good work and achievement throughout the year according to Costa art teacher Katherine Martin.
“It is a great opportunity to recognize students that work really hard to create pieces of art,” Martin said. “And giving awards reinforces that their hard work and dedication pays off.”
Teachers nominated thirty students were nominated to receive a $100 check and certificate from the Rotary Club. Students were presented with certificates and scholarship checks by Richard Ham and Deborah Robertson from the Rotary Club.
“I felt that it was an honor to be recognized by my teacher and having the opportunity to share my work with the public,” senior and advanced photography student Spencer White said.
Costa Vice Principal Deborah Hofreiter helped coordinate the whole event by working with the Rotary Club, reminding teachers to select the awardees and overseeing the setup of the room before the ceremony. Band director Joel Carlson had band members play before the award ceremony began.
“The band played different pieces of music for us before we started the awards,” Hofreiter said. “It added a sense of closeness to the art departments for displaying one of the many talents this program supports.”
Students and staff are invited to view the student work displays in Room 60 for all art departments.
“It was an honor to be recognized for my hard work,” senior Hana Rothner said. “And a great opportunity to show other students artwork students at costa have created.”
Art teachers Katherine Martin awarded Bridger Hart, Danielle Smith and Lindsay Thomasson and Amber Dixon awarded Kendal Dragotto and Peter Neal. Ceramics teacher Jonathan Reichardt awarded Maxwell Myszkowski and Hana Rothner. Woodworking teacher Tom Walker awarded Jaelyn Carpenter, Ryan Gustafson and Davis Pratt. Cinematic Arts and Broadcast Journalism teacher Michael Hernandez awarded Omar Ahmed, Scott Healy, Emma Bottom and Allison Payne. Photography teacher Chris Lee awarded Harley Bellew, Shante Robinson, Elizabeth Tsuang and Spencer White.
“It was a great reward to my students that come in to the class everyday dedicating their time to completing a project,” Martin said.
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