Seven Mill Creek High School art students were honored this month for exceptional artistic achievement at the 2011 Regional Scholastic Art Exhibition.

Clara Hong, Jana Rossouw, Ali Steele, Alexis Berry, Hokyum Kim, Kara Yogan and Megan Uphaus earned Gold Key awards as part of this year's Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Their teacher, Mike Lasseter, was also honored.

Lasseter described the Scholastic Art Awards as prestigious.

"It is a tremendous honor to receive a Gold Key award," Lasseter said in a written statement. "The Department of Art and Design at Mill Creek High School is tremendously pleased with the results of the Scholastic Art Awards."  

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards program offers recognition and scholarship opportunities for students in grades seven through 12.  Gold Keys are awarded to the most exceptional entries in each category. Hong and Steele earned three Gold Key awards each, and Rossouw earned two. Berry, Kim, Yogan and Uphaus each earned one Gold Key award. Their award-winning art will be entered in the national Scholastic Art and Writing competition.  All seven students are eligible for scholarship opportunities as Gold Key recipients.

In total, Mill Creek art students won 12 Gold Key awards, 23 Silver Key awards and 35 Honorable Mention awards.  Mill Creek High School was one of 11 Gwinnett County public schools represented in the competition.

GCPS students as a whole won 56 Gold Key awards as part of the regional competition. GCPS students were also awarded 82 Silver Key and 111 Honorable Mention awards.

"The young artists at Mill Creek were so excited to be recognized by this prestigious program," Lasseter wrote.  "I am so proud of their hard work, dedication, and passion.   Mill Creek's Department of Art and Design strives for excellence and hopes to offer the highest level of education to our young artists."