The Exhibit A Family Court Art Challenge is an annual event supported through a partnership between the Ninth Circuit’s Family Court and Orange County Public Schools. Each year, students are given the opportunity to express themselves through the creation of a special piece of art that represents what that year’s theme means to them. The students’ artwork is judged in four categories by age group: elementary (K-2), elementary (3-5), middle and high school, with awards given to first, second, and third place winners, as well as one or two additional honorable mentions. First place winners remain on display in the lobby of the Thomas S. Kirk Juvenile Justice Center.
2023 Winners
Elementary School – Grades K-2
- First Place - Amanda Pena, 2nd grade, Endeavor Elementary
- Second Place - Matthew Bench, 2nd grade, Endeavor Elementary
- Third Place - Olivia Hicks, 2nd grade, Deerwood Elementary
- Honorable Mention - Sameer Jani, Kindergarten, Stonewyck Elementary
- Honorable Mention - Jeiden A. Nieves, 1st grade, Forsyth Woods Elementary
Elementary School – Grades 3-5
- First Place - Camilia Yepez, 5th grade, Stonewyck Elementary
- Second Place - Danny Huang, 5th grade, Bay Lake Elementary
- Third Place - Vivian Tu, 5th grade, Maxey Elementary
- Honorable Mention - Finley Burton-Sparks, 3rd grade, Baldwin Park Elementary
- Honorable Mention - Leonardo Ortiz, 5th grade, Bonneville Elementary
Middle School
- First Place - Emily Payne, 8th grade, Gotha Middle School
- Second Place - Sophie Ha, 8th grade, Gotha Middle School
- Third Place - Maite Valenzuela Covarrubias, 7th grade, Apopka Memorial Middle School
- Honorable Mention - Ivelise Reyes, 8th grade, Westbridge Middle School
- Honorable Mention - Kailey McGowman, 8th grade, Sunridge Middle School
High School
- First Place - Luca Brightwell, 12th grade, Dr. Phillips High School
- Second Place - Ava Hand, 11th grade, Jones High School
- Third Place - Arielle Fortune, 9th grade, Dr. Phillips High School
- Honorable Mention - Esther Gedeon, 10th grade, Evans High School
- Honorable Mention - Jacob Gregory, 12th grade, Boone High School