Joliet Public Schools District 86 Student Artwork Showcased at Art Show

Congratulations to the students whose artwork was featured at the Joliet Public Schools District 86 Fine Arts Department annual Student Art Show on May 16, 2026. Dirksen Junior High School and Lynne Thigpen Elementary School were transformed into art galleries showcasing more than 1,500 pieces of student artwork from all District 86 elementary and junior high schools.

The art show was coordinated by Joliet Public Schools District 86 Fine Arts Coordinator Amy Mucha and art teachers Kelly Bartels, Miranda Campbell, Sarah Cheranichit, Rene Fitz-Henley, Amy Hayes, Denise Johnson, Andrea Kanive, Lara Marcantonio, Nathan Matoska, Christine May, Felicia Panzica, Cindy Rangel, Tracey Stefos, Stephanie Schoen, and Martha Summers-Romero.

In addition to viewing student art, music was provided by the Joliet Public Schools District 86 All City Jazz Band, Dirksen Junior High/Washington Junior High Jazz Band, and the Hufford Junior High School Honors Orchestra. The student musicians were directed by Laura Armstrong, R. Scott Barnas, Clifford Hunt, and James Shaw.

Notecards, highlighting student artwork from each Joliet District 86 school were also available to purchase. The 20 students were recognized at the Joliet Public Schools District 86 Board of School Inspectors May 13, 2026, meeting. This year’s student notecard winners were Sarahi Valdovinos, T.E. Culbertson Elementary; Sara Cano, M.J. Cunningham Elementary; Laila Escalante, Dirksen Junior High; Neveah Snyder, Eisenhower Academy; Yaretzi Delgado-Valdes, Farragut Elementary; Kamila Muniz, Forest Park Individual Education (I.E.); Allan Sarabia Pineda, Gompers Junior High; Sophia Magolan, Hufford Junior High; Anna Sanchez, Thomas Jefferson Elementary; Karla Tuxpan, Edna Keith Elementary; Itzel Ochoa Sanchez, A.O. Marshall Elementary; Sebastian Gutierrez, Marycrest Early Childhood Center; Penelope Watkins, Pershing Elementary; Estephany Mendoza, Sator Sanchez Elementary; Rebeca Moura Bras Praxedes, Carl Sandburg Elementary; Adriana Jimenez, Isaac Singleton Elementary; Arabelle Costilla, Taft Elementary; Alayna Rodriguez, Lynne Thigpen Elementary; Riley Martinez, Washington Junior High; and Connor Sifuentes, Woodland Elementary.