News and Events
Inaugural Excellence in Arts Awards celebrate performing and visual artists
The inaugural Excellence in Arts Awards event on April 22 recognized all of Ransom Everglades' performing and visual arts students and faculty and bestowed special awards on 10 of student-artists. The end-of-year celebration in the Lewis Family Auditorium also featured remarks from guest speaker William Hector '11, the festival director of the inaugural Coconut Grove Theatre Festival, who shared how what he learned as a drama student at RE guides him to this day. Interim Arts Department Chair Cathi Leibinger emceed the event, announcing winners of five new awards.
She also recognized graduating seniors in various arts disciplines. "The amout of talent in this room is outstanding, and the achievements are immense," Leibinger said.
Taylor Smith '25 and Sofia Rakhimi '25 won the Outstanding Achievement in Visual/Performing Arts awards; Valentina Capote '26 and Jaerla Sajous '25 earned the Values in Action in Visual/Performing Arts awards; Brody Sundheim '26 and Isabella Ranawat '26 earned the Emerging Artists in Visual/Performing Arts awards; Noa Garcia '27 and Lucas Noblet '28 received the Outstanding Service in the Visual/Performing Arts awards; and Lexi Barna '25 and Vicky Pinilla '25 earned the Creative Unity in the Visual Arts/Performing Arts awards.
Other art awards were scheduled to be given during school awards ceremonies later in April and in May.
Hector said participating in drama at RE's middle and upper schools taught him skills that influence his work to this day, including with his work with the theatre festival.
"That in and of itself is the Ransom Everglades education, teaching students not just artistic mastery, but entrepreneurial drive and how to build their own projects," he said, adding later .... "More than anything else, Ransom teaches initiative, and initiative is what is needed in the world today ... It's up to artists to build projects and initiatives and collaborations that bring art and stories directly to people where they are."
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Taylor Smith '25 and Sofia Rakhimi '25 won the Outstanding Achievement in Visual/Performing Arts awards; Valentina Capote '26 and Jaerla Sajous '25 earned the Values in Action in Visual/Performing Arts awards; Brody Sundheim '26 and Isabella Ranawat '26 earned the Emerging Artists in Visual/Performing Arts awards; Noa Garcia '27 and Lucas Noblet '28 received the Outstanding Service in the Visual/Performing Arts awards; and Lexi Barna '25 and Vicky Pinilla '25 earned the Creative Unity in the Visual Arts/Performing Arts awards.
Other art awards were scheduled to be given during school awards ceremonies later in April and in May.
Hector said participating in drama at RE's middle and upper schools taught him skills that influence his work to this day, including with his work with the theatre festival.
"That in and of itself is the Ransom Everglades education, teaching students not just artistic mastery, but entrepreneurial drive and how to build their own projects," he said, adding later .... "More than anything else, Ransom teaches initiative, and initiative is what is needed in the world today ... It's up to artists to build projects and initiatives and collaborations that bring art and stories directly to people where they are."
Middle School
2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 250 6850
Upper School
3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 460 8800
Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.