WKU News

The Kentucky Museum and our sponsors are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Abound Credit Union Celebration of the Arts. Generously sponsored by Abound Credit Union, any Kentucky resident over the age of 18 and living within 65 miles of Bowling Green was eligible to enter a piece of their original artwork created within the last two years. Monetary awards were given in ten categories as well as for Best of Show, the Purchase Award, the Student Purchase Award, the World's Greatest Studio Tour Merit Award, and the Artworks Merit Award.

The award winners were announced at a public ceremony and reception on March 7, with comments provided by WKU Provost Robert Fischer, Abound Credit Union's Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Jake Darabos, and Kentucky Museum Director Brent Bjorkman. 

The exhibition remains open to the public through April 18, 2025. 

The winners of the 2025 Abound Credit Union Celebration of the Arts are:

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Place, Ceramics and Glass

Sophia Holland

Earth & Ivory

Sponsored by Nancy Baird, in memory of Tom

 

Second Place, Ceramics and Glass

Casey Strange

Groovy Baby

Sponsored by Brent and Holly Oglesbee

 

Third Place, Ceramics and Glass

Lynette Haggbloom

Star Gazer

Sponsored by Mike and Julie Hinson

 

First Place, Drawing/Illustration

Matt Simone

The Incredible Mr. Fingers

Sponsored by Charles and Carolyn Hardcastle

 

Second Place, Drawing/Illustration

Emma Durham

Contemplation of the Self in Another Dimension

Sponsored by Mike and Julie Hinson

 

Third Place, Drawing/Illustration

Steven Clay

East Mitten, Monument Valley

Alla Gilbert, in memory of Christopher and David Gilbert

First Place, Fiber Arts

Cindy Houston

Gift from the Fibershed

Sponsored by Mike and Leslie Nichols, in memory of Jacqui Lubbers

 

Second Place, Fiber Arts

Scott Gilbert

Reproduction of a Cherokee Lidded Egg Basket

Sponsored by Ann Ferrell and Brent Bjorkman

 

Third Place, Fiber Arts

Colleen Hathaway

Central Park Musicians

Sponsored by Lyda Astrove

 

First Place, Graphic Design/Digital Art

Natalie Tyree

Darling, I’m a Nightmare Dressed Like a Daydream

Sponsored by Sharon Kreke

 

Second Place, Graphic Design/Digital Art

Glen Zimmerman

Oh, I Didn’t Hear You Come In

Sponsored by Cheryl Kirby-Stokes and Michael Stokes

 

Third Place, Graphic Design/Digital Art

Noah Hernandez

There’s a Moon Out Tonight

Sponsored by Rick and Carol DuBose

First Place, Mixed Media

Sheila Flener

Artist Book #51

Sponsored by Brent and Holly Oglesbee

 

Second Place, Mixed Media

Marilee Salvator

Worn and Carved: From Gorge to Mesa

Sponsored by Crystal Bohlander

 

Third Place, Mixed Media

Kim Jones

Out of Darkness

Sponsored by Sharon Kreke

 

First Place, Painting

C. David Jones

Appalachian Thanksgiving 1951

Sponsored by Ray Buckberry Jr.

 

Second Place, Painting

Lora Gill

Petina

Sponsored by Anna Jo Johnson, in memory of Ann T. Travelstead and Dr. Jim Johson

 

Third Place, Painting

Moksha Sommer

The Monkey in the Crown

Sponsored by Sharon Kreke

First Place, Photography

Cheryl Kirby-Stokes

Hair a’ la Tebogo and Tumelo

Sponsored by Connie and Tom Foster

 

Second Place, Photography

Stuart A. Foster

Relic Grain Elevator, Franklin, Kentucky

Sponsored by Tom and Portia Pennington

 

Third Place, Photography

Jeff Sweeney

Four Generations of Love

Sponsored by Mike and Julie Hinson

 

First Place, Printmaking

Trini Morales

Lela Marias

Sponsored by Scott Gilbert and Beth Hester

 

Second Place, Printmaking

Samantha Cox

He’s a Little Squirmy

Sponsored by Tom and Portia Pennington

 

Third Place, Printmaking

Nika Harrington

Where the Birds Rest

Sponsored by Mike and Julie Hinson

First Place, Sculpture

Tony Murray

Tribute: In Honor of the Greatest Man Never Born

Sponsored by WKU League of Sculptors

 

Second Place,  Sculpture

Robert Goodwin

Untitled

Sponsored by Yvonne Petkus and CJ Johanson

 

Third Place, Sculpture

Steve Haggbloom

If Picasso Had a Bandsaw #3

Sponsored by Mike and Julie Hinson

 

First Place, Watercolor

Jon Adams

Untitled

Sponsored by Drs. Sam and Mary Evans

 

Second Place, Watercolor

Jay Dougherty

Pushing Up Daisies, Spring In

Sponsored by Richard and Leslie Weigel

 

Third Place, Watercolor

Ann Smith

Alma Mater Alley

Sponsored by Professor Ron and Mrs. Cathy Rhoades