Several Atlantic County students were recognized at the State Teen Arts Festival for their outstanding achievement in visual, literary and performing arts.
Sofia Torreblanco of Absegami High School earned gold honors in the creative writing category for “The Ones Who Wake Again.” Stephan O’Neill of Oakcrest High School also earned gold honors for his monologue, “Choir Boy – Tarell Alvin McCraney.”
The Oakcrest Jazz Ambassadors won silver honors in the small instrument category for its performance of “Crunchy Frog – Gordon Goodwin,” while Mainland High School student John DeRichie earned bronze honors for his piano performance of “Elude No. 12 in D Sharp Minor – Alexander Scriabin.”
“We are extremely proud of these talented students who have been recognized among their peers throughout the state, as well as the nearly 1,500 students who participated in our annual Teen Arts Festival,” said County Executive Dennis Levinson.
The state festival followed the individual county festivals and was held earlier this month at Middlesex College in Edison. Atlantic County’s Teen Arts Festival was held on May 6 in downtown Hammonton.
Atlantic County was well-represented at the state festival. Students from Absegami, Atlantic Christian, Atlantic City, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Buena Regional, Cedar Creek, Charter Tech, Egg Harbor Township, Hammonton, Holy Spirit, Mainland Regional, Oakcrest, and St Joseph Academy received nominations to attend. A student from the William Davies Middle School also received a nomination.