Friday, Jan. 31, the Nebraska Scholastic Art Regional Competition awards were released. Between Westside High School and Middle School, Westside received 123 awards, 98 of which came from the high school.

The high school art department received the most awards of any school in Nebraska, and broke its previous school record, which art instructor Liz Dittrick said was around the 75 set last year. Of the 98 awards, 29 were Gold Keys (the highest distinction) and 35 were Silver Keys (second highest distinction).

Leading Westside in awards were Emily Reece, who had two Gold Keys and three Silver Keys, Catie Thull, who had two Gold and two Silver keys, Jenny Solheim, who had three Gold Keys, and  Wala Albahrani, who had one Gold Key and three Silver Keys.

“We had the most awards of any other school,” Dittrick said. “I would just say it’s an honor to work with such talented staff and students. We challenge our students to push themselves and it’s really great to see them receive recognition.”

The Westside artists who received awards will be going to the Scholastic Art Awards of Nebraska Ceremony Saturday, March 1.