Three Mexico High School student artists have been honored as 2026 CNY Scholastic Art Award winners and will be featured on exhibit at Onondaga Community College.

The students earning recognition included Rachel Gagnier, Seanna Twiss and Alexa Williams. Gagnier’s “Blue Heron” artwork also earned top honors as she received the Syracuse Cultural Workers Peace & Justice Award, a special award of which there are only 21 given among the 1,400 works selected for display.

“I am incredibly proud of our student artists,” said MHS art educator Brittany Malone. “Our students work very hard and it’s great to see they are receiving the recognition they deserve. These pieces reflect not only skill, but resilience, dedication and a willingness to take creative risks.”

Rachel Gagnier received a Gold Key for her collage piece “Blue Heron” and a Silver Key for her collage piece “Crown in the Clouds” along with four honorable mentions for her paintings “Cozy Puppy” and “Deer Mount Replacement,” and Drawings “Flower Bulb” and “Many Cities Two Streets.” Seanna Twiss received a Silver Key for her collage piece “Undisturbed.” Alexa Williams received an Honorable Mention for her piece “New Beginnings.”

“Our students prove every day that creativity is a powerful form of learning,” said Malone. “Their work shows discipline, imagination and heart.”

All the artworks will be on display from 1/13/26 to 2/27/26 along with other selected works from CNY counties in Onondaga Community College’s Whitney Applied Technology Building, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

To learn more about the Scholastic Art Awards, visit artandwriting.org.

Below is a photo of each artwork.

Rachel Gagnier, Grade 12, Collage, “Blue Heron”: Syracuse Cultural Workers Peace & Justice Award, Gold Key

Seanna Twiss, Grade 12, Collage, “Undisturbed”: Silver Key

 

Rachel Gagnier, Grade 12, Collage, “Crown in the Clouds”: Silver Key

Rachel Gagnier, Grade 12, Painting, “Deer Mount Replacement”: Honorable Mention

Rachel Gagnier, Grade 12, Painting, “Cozy Puppy”: Honorable Mention

Rachel Gagnier, Grade 12, Drawing, “Flower Bulb”: Honorable Mention

Rachel Gagnier, Grade 12, Drawing, “Many Cities Two Streets”: Honorable Mention

Alexa Williams, Grade 10, Ceramics, “New Beginnings”: Honorable Mention