Sturgeon Bay, Wis. (April 20, 2026) – Young artists in grades 9 – 12 from throughout Door County were celebrated at a free public reception held on April 6 for the 52nd Annual Salon of Door County High School Art. The Miller Art Museum announced the award winners and honored all student participants during a special awards ceremony at the opening celebration.
This year’s exhibition features original artwork by 105 students from the 2025-26 academic year who attend school at one of the Peninsula’s five high schools: Gibraltar, Sevastopol, Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay, and Washington Island. Certificates of Participation were presented to all student artists by their respective art teachers. Students receiving an Award of Excellence, Honorable Mention, and the Jim Rericha Legacy Award were announced and presented by Executive Director Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead and Curator of Exhibitions and Collections Suzanne Rose during the reception. This year’s award winners are:
Awards of Excellence:
- Abigail DeMeuse, Gibraltar High School
- Lilian Saltou, Sevastopol High School
- Audrie Schley, Southern Door High School
- Rowan Ploor, Sturgeon Bay High School
- Thomas Pratt, Washington Island High School
Honorable Mention:
- Molly Virlee, Gibraltar High School
- Lola Georgenson, Sevastopol High School
- Angelina LeCloux Herrera, Southern Door High School
- Ryan Felhofer, Sturgeon Bay High School
- Teagan McGrane, Washington Island High School
Jim Rericha Legacy Award:
- Gianna Roman, Sevastopol High School
Award of Excellence winners received $100, and Honorable Mention awardees $50. In addition to cash prizes, Award of Excellence and Honorable Mention awardees receive a certificate for instruction to further their artistic endeavors through a workshop at PenArt in Fish Creek.
Executive Director Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead had the honor of presenting the fourth annual Jim Rericha Legacy Award, a $100 cash prize, to Sevastopol High School senior Gianna Roman for her work titled, “Jalapeno Popper aka JP.” Jim Rericha was a longtime art teacher and theater director at Sevastopol who had a significant impact on the lives of those he taught and mentored throughout his long teaching career; he passed away in 2022 and an anonymous financial gift makes the award possible annually.
“There is a no-holds-barred approach to the creation of work from young artists that makes viewing their work exciting and refreshing,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Miller Art Museum executive director. “Visitors to this year’s exhibit will see many explorations of self and media, reflected with varied color palettes, and beautifully rendered sketches. Without a doubt, many of the works are thought-provoking, reflecting a sense of place and what’s happening in their world.”
In addition to the student awards, the museum also presented monetary awards to each high school art department.
The awards, unless otherwise stated, are given as recognition for achievements in art class, made possible by the following exhibition sponsors: Presenting sponsors Dennis and Bonnie Connolly and Hermke and Elke Timm; Supporting sponsors Kathy and John Campbell, Chris Cramer in memory of Tricia Cramer, Door County Medical Center, the Jacksonport Women’s Club, Barb and Mike Madden, Nicolet National Bank, PenArt, and The Scholz Family in memory of Ruth Scholz. The exhibition is also supported, in part, with grant funds from the Wisconsin Arts Board and the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
“We are particularly grateful for our sponsors and their partnership in celebrating these young artists,” Gigstead continued. “Gerhard’s spirit is ever present and we are honored to be able to provide a platform for this each year.”
The 52nd Annual Salon of Door County High School Art will remain on view through Saturday, May 23, 2026. Admission to both the reception and exhibition is free and open to the public.
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