Stuart, FL — Martin County High School is celebrating an extraordinary achievement in the arts as student photographers, painters, and illustrators earned a total of 40 awards in the 2026 Regional Scholastic Art Awards for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. The awards, one of the nation’s longest‑running and most prestigious recognitions for creative teens, honor exceptional originality, technical skill, and personal vision.
Among this year’s honorees, five MCHS student artists earned Gold Key awards, the highest regional distinction. Their artwork will now advance to the national level of judging, where they will compete for national medals and exhibition opportunities.
Gold Key recipients include:
Lily Carter, Sueanna Doris-Capra, Charlotte Hannah, Ella Smith, Kaitlyn Sperco, and Sobner Termilus.
Community members are invited to view all recognized pieces here:
👉 https://tinyurl.com/2ptw5vp9
Gold Key Awards
Photography
Lily Carter – “Confidence”
Sueanna Doris-Capra – “Warm Embrace”
Charlotte Hannah – “The Suns Golden Touch”
Ella Smith – “Birds of Prey”
Ella Smith – “Tortoise”
Ella Smith – “Owl”
Sobner Termilus – “Face of a Winner”
Sobner Termilus – “Mad Junior”
Drawing
Kaitlyn Sperco – “Captured”
Silver Key Awards
Photography
Lily Carter – “Split Toast”
Gianna Burgos – “True Colors”
Ean Ferreira Herman – “Back Home”
Taylor Gibson – “Rhythm in the Water”
Charlotte Hanna – “Overgrown”
Lilly Larsen – “New Beginnings”, “Fantasy” , “Golden Hour”
Vanessa Roblero-Chilel – “Stress”
Ella Smith – “It Just Keeps Ticking”
Ella Smith – “Free as a Bird”
Ella Smith – “I Only See You”
Sobner Termilus – “Barcode”
Honorable Mention Awards
Photography
Ashleymar Aranguren – “Art”; “Filming”
Taylor Gibson – “Darkness Taking Over”; “My Eyes”
Charlotte Hannah – “Boots and Blossoms”; “The Church Bus”
Lilly Larsen – “Fresh Melon”; “Blanket”; “Rainy Days”
Vanessa Roblero-Chilel – “Post Up”
Ella Smith – “Ashamed of Myself”; “Solitude”; “Climate Change”
Sobner Termilus – “Blocked Sunshine”
Bella Valade – “Movement”
Painting
Kaitlyn Sperco – “Oh the Places You’ll Go”
Digital Painting
Bella Valade – “Atlas”; “Taylor”
A Celebration of Creativity
The success of these students reflects the strength of the visual arts program at Martin County High School and the dedication of teachers who foster artistic expression and technical excellence. The Scholastic Art Awards recognize only the top tier of student work across the region, making this year’s results particularly impressive.
“Seeing our students earn recognition across multiple categories—photography, drawing, painting, and digital media—shows the depth of talent on our campus,” school leaders said. “We are extremely proud of all our accomplished artists.”
Gold Key winners will move on to national adjudication this spring, with national medalists announced later in the year.