Each week Buckhannon-Upshur High School features two Fine Arts Students of the Week to highlight the work students are doing in the art world.
Visual Arts Student of the Week: Mackenzie Macknight
Grade: 12
Student Organizations/Ensembles/Clubs/Arts Activities (in-school): National Art Honor Society, International Thespian Society, B-U Soundwaves.
Student Extracurriculars Arts (Community): The Dance Factory (six years).
Student Accolades (Academic & Fine Arts): Currently taking the AP Art and Design course.
Favorite Roles/Pieces/Shows Performed/Etc: They help me show things about myself and express parts of me I cannot through talking. I also get to explore types of art.
Why are the arts important to you? They are an opportunity to be creative and express yourself.
Future Plans: Four-year Bachelor program majoring in Studio Art, minoring in art education. Wanting to become an art teacher.
Additional Info: Dancer for 6 years. Loves K-Pop.
Arts Teacher(s) Name (in school and out): Ms. Heidi Thompson, Ms. Laura Meese.
Performing Arts Student of the Week: Anna Grace Lantz
Grade: 12th
Student Organizations/Ensembles/Clubs/Arts Activities (in-school): Band, Jazz Band, Choir, Soundwaves, Majorette, Saxophone quartet, Youth In Government, Youth Leadership Association, National Honor Society, and the editor of the fine arts department for the yearbook committee.
Student Extracurriculars Arts (Community): Singing at church, and was a part of the BCT production Frozen Jr.
Student Accolades (Academic & Fine Arts): Honor Roll, attended Glenville Honor Choir, been asked to be in Wesleyan honor bands, first chair tenor saxophone.
Favorite Roles/Pieces/Shows Performed/Etc: My favorite show we have ever performed in band was this year’s show “Boogie with the Bucs.” With a new strong band director and a new majorette advisor the members of the BU Band were pushed to do our best and try new things we had never done before in order to put on a great show.
Why are the arts important to you? The fine arts are important to me because the departments become a family! We work hard together, push each other, and even get aggravated with each other, but at the end of the day we are all one big talented family!
Future Plans: I am planning to attend Glenville State University to major in elementary education and be a member of their marching band!
Additional Info: If you are thinking about becoming a member of the fine arts department, DO IT! As a person who has done both sports and been in the arts, I may not be able to get up and play a sport when I’m old but I’ll be able to pick up my instrument and still play.
Arts Teacher(s) Name (in school and out): All the directors I have had over the years are Tyler Perske, Taylor High, Jeremiah Smallridge, Garrett Friend, Eliza Taylor, Sharon Walton, and DJ Stout.
