Crowds Brave Weather for Spring Triad at USAO
Although it was probably the coldest and windiest day in the 20 year history of the Montmartre chalk art competition, more than 900 artists bundled up to participate in the April 2 event at the University of Science and Arts.
In all, more than 1,700 students participated in Montmartre, the statewide high school Scholastic Meet and the Droverstock music festival -- also known as the Spring Triad.
Artists from elementary schools, high schools and colleges across the state created more than 340 original works of art in four hours as artists created six-foot square drawings canvassing the entire oval. Students represented nearly 70 Oklahoma schools.
More than 850 students representing 38 high schools competed in the Scholastic Meet. In its 29th year, faculty presented testing in more than two dozen categories and awarded the top five students in each. Four high schools took home trophies for having the most students win awards in the meet.
Mustang High School won first place for academic achievements, followed by Lawton High School at second place. Ardmore High School scored third place and Rush Springs High School took small school honorable mention.
With the onset of high winds, the Droverstock music festival was moved indoors, where students gathered in the Te Ata Memorial Auditorium throughout the day for live music and entertainment. Vendor booths offered food and special activities while bands from across the state and nation rocked the stage with more than 12 hours of live music.
In the Montmartre Chalk Art Contest, Lindsay Wallace, Brandon Ruble, LaShay Henderson and Jasmine Williams from the Oklahoma School for the Deaf took home the Best of Show award for the day.
Judges Choice awards were given for four different age groups.
The college/adult division award went to three entries. Receiving awards were Cynthia Alvarez and Alex Gerasimov from the University of Central Oklahoma; Scott Smith of Lawton and Christy Ferrell of Cyril.
The high school division awarded seven pieces that included Brandon Hicks, Josh Taylor and Ryan Sutton of Canton High School; Jenna Dyer of Altus High School; Gage Williams, Erin Robertson, Weston Jarvis and James Brachlan of Mustang High School, and Chelsey Carpenter and Neka James of Keys High School.
Winners in the high school division also included Odessa Teboe, Naveen Komar and Kristin Sides of Weatherford High School; Terri Bryant, Sharon Tsatoke and Emily Davis of Anadarko High School, and Tanner Friday, Steven Claunch, Rody Hopwood and Travis Tester of Yukon High School.
Four entries scored awards in the junior division, with Jorge Reza and Andy Dominguez of Watonga High School; Taylor Avila and Chase Garrison of Altus High School; Katie Schwartz, Melanie Willis, Lauren Romero and Ngan Dinhnguyen of Mustang High School, and Diego Quirino of Altus High School.
The 6th grade and younger division award was given to Kelsey Meier, Blake Wallace, Georgina Escobar and Austin Polk of Piedmont Middle School.
The Spring Triad event is held every first Thursday in April at USAO.