The Maine Arts Commission honors arts education by curating an annual student art exhibit featured throughout the Maine State House Complex. Maine Excellence in Arts Education recognizes the high quality of visual and performing arts by hosting a celebration that includes a reception for students and teachers alike.
The 2025 Exhibit
Annually, the Maine Arts Commission partners with Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) and Maine’s two Congressional offices to highlight exemplary high school student artists. Almost one thousand Maine works of art were submitted this year to a national youth competition, the Scholastic Arts & Literary Awards, organized locally by MECA&D.
Coming from all over the state, 230 students received awards through the Scholastic competition.
The 44 works on display in the Maine Excellence in Arts Education exhibition at the Burton R. Cross Building at the Capitol Complex were selected from those Scholastics winners by a separate jury and represent the breadth of creativity of high school students from around the state. Two works, one from each Congressional district, were also selected to be displayed at the US Capitol for a year through the Congressional Art Awards program. Runners up are included in the Maine Excellence exhibition.
All these student artists thrive through the careful and dedicated mentoring of their art teachers, along with the encouragement of their friends and families. The Maine Arts Commission is honored to share this inspiring work with Capitol complex visitors. The exhibition at the Cross building will be on display March 12 – May 30, 2025.
A ceremony in Portland on March 8th, 2025, brought together these students, teachers and families to celebrate their accomplishments and encourage their continued creativity.

Brunswick High School
Teacher: Colleen Kearney-Graffam

Waterville Senior High School
Teacher: Jessica Hamilton-Jones

Thornton Academy
Teacher: Jodi Thomas

Oxford Hills Tech School
Teacher: Virginia Valdes

Kennebunk High School
Teacher: Katie Mooney

Scarborough High School
Teacher: NA

Portland Arts & Tech High School
Teacher: Elizabeth Long

Brunswick High School
Teacher: Jennie Driscoll

Old Town High School
Teacher: Joshua Curtis

North Yarmouth Academy
Teacher: Colby Myer

Greely High School
Teacher: Ceri Botto

Portland Arts & Tech High School
Teacher: Elizabeth Long

Maranacook High School
Teacher: Jeremy Smith

Gorham High School
Teacher: NA

Brewer High School
Teacher: NA

Sanford High School
Teacher: Margaret Warner

Wells High School
Teacher: Emily Clayton

Hebron Academy
Teacher: Jude Blakelock

Hebron Academy
Teacher: Jude Blakelock

Falmouth High School
Teacher: NA

Falmouth High School
Teacher: Nancy Goldstone

Calais Middle High School
Teacher: Bobbi Tardif

Baxter Academy Tech & Science
Teacher: Matthew Barnes

Kennebunk High School
Teacher: Katie Mooney

Berwick Academy
Teacher: Raegan Russell

Lincoln Academy
Teacher: Nina Sylvia

R W Traip Academy
Teacher: Kimberly Lightcastle

Waynflete School
Teacher: Leslie Murray

Wells High School
Teacher: Emily Clayton

Berwick Academy
Teacher: Raegan Russell

Oxford Hills Tech School
Teacher: Virginia Valdes

Gray-New Gloucester High School
Teacher: Mary Pennington

Bangor High School
Teacher: Susan Bryand

Maine Arts Academy
Teacher: Russ Cox

Hebron Academy
Teacher: Stefania Motta

Lincoln Academy
Teacher: Nina Sylvia

Mt Blue High School
Teacher: Pamela Chernesky

Freeport High School
Teacher: Kimberly Medsker-Mehalic

Rangeley Lakes Regional School
Teacher: Maryam Emami

Kents Hill School
Teacher: NA

Spruce Mountain High School
Teacher: NA

Rangeley Lakes Regional School
Teacher: Liz Thompson

Baxter Academy Tech & Science
Teacher: NA

Bonny Eagle High School
Teacher: Sarah Templeton Bush