GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – City High Middle School Senior Elliot Williamson was awarded first place in the 2025 SMART Art Awards during the ArtPrize Opening Celebration with artwork titled “Renewable Energy Will Make The World Bright.”
The SMART Art (Students Making Art with a Renewable Theme) competition invites scholars to express their bold ideas about energy, the environment and the world they hope to create through their art.
The winner’s artwork, along with the art from the top 20 finalists, will be on display on the first floor of Grand Rapids City Hall throughout ArtPrize.
Elliot won a $2,000 scholarship and an Apple Laptop courtesy of Consumers Energy. Alivia Phillips from Southwest Middle High School Academia Bilingüe was named runner-up. Samya Alford from Innovation Central High School placed third. Each of the top ten finalists received monetary or technology prizes including Apple Laptops, iPads and/or Meijer gift cards.
“These students are not just creating art — they’re sharing their vision for a better world,” said Cathy Wilson, director of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “Their creativity, passion, and optimism are inspiring, and we’re proud to support their journey as they imagine and shape the future.”
“The SMART Art competition is a powerful example of how art can inspire action and awareness,” said Dan Van Til, GRPS Fine Arts Director. “Our scholars are using their creativity to explore meaningful issues that matter to them, and the results are both thought-provoking and deeply moving.”
Artwork from the finalists included mixed media, oil painting, yarn, digital, ink, plastic, and more. A panel of art professionals from Center for Community Transformation, Grand Rapids Community College and a local artist and community organizer selected the finalists from 41 entries.
The 20 finalists, along with their high school are in alphabetical order:
- Samya Alford, Innovation Central High School, ‘In Full Bloom’
- Keyla Arcos-Lopez, Museum High School, ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’
- Andy Blancas-Vazquez, Union High School, ‘The Breath of Tomorrow’
- Sneha Dixit, City High Middle School, ‘A Drop of Hope’
- Clara Guest, City High Middle School, ‘New Beginnings’
- Juan Hernandez-Gomez, Southwest Middle High School Academia Bilingüe, ‘Earth’s Vision’
- Judy Hollister, City High Middle School, ‘Unbalanced’
- Emma Hoogewind, CA Frost Environmental Science Middle High School, ‘Lady of the Forest’
- Roberto Huling-Perez, Union High School, ‘Two Sides of Earth’
- Lucy Kearney, City High Middle School, ‘Footprints’
- Sylvie Mahlie, City High Middle School, ‘Is It Too Late?’
- LaZell Martin, Innovation Central High School, ‘Natural Growth’
- Lulu Nygaard Tap, City High Middle School, ‘Way of Water’
- La’Kariana Perkins, Union High School, ‘Renewable Energy and Nature’
- Alivia Phillips, Southwest Middle High School Academia Bilingüe, ‘XYZ’
- Lily Salacina, CA Frost Environmental Science Middle High School, ‘Life, Death, and Rebirth’
- Lux Schmitz, CA Frost Environmental Science Middle High School, ‘Micro Particles, Macro Problems’
- Bee Sutherby, Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy, ‘Sustenance’
- Ayana Torres, Southwest Middle High School Academia Bilingüe, ‘Our Beautiful Earth’
- Elliot Williamson, City High Middle School, ‘Renewable Energy Will Make The World Bright’
