Top honors awarded at 2026 Hesston College juried student art exhibit

Standout student artwork takes center stage at Hesston College as the 2026 Juried Student Art Exhibit celebrates this year’s award-winning artists. The exhibit, on display through May 1 in the Regier-Friesen Gallery in Laban Peachey Center (325 S College Dr, Hesston), invites the community to experience the creativity and vision of Hesston students.

This year’s top honors were awarded to:

• Best of Show — “Tomorrow” by Constance Feldt, freshman from Wichita, Kan. (ceramic tile triptych)
• Merit Award I — “Though I Have Grown Old the Bell Still Rings” by Anna Franco, sophomore from El Paso, Texas (graphite on paper)
• Merit Award II — “Growing Wild” by Elsa Rayneau, junior from Malang, Indonesia (watercolor on paper)
• Juror’s Choice — “Weirdo” by Evelyn Gaertner, sophomore from Newton, Kan. (stoneware teapot)

This year’s exhibit was juried by ceramic artist Zach Tate, an art professor from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, who noted the wide range of mediums and subject matter represented, as well as students’ willingness to pursue their own ideas beyond assigned coursework.

“By bringing in an outside juror we give our students the opportunity to have their work evaluated by an unfamiliar set of eyes as well as have our art program identify trends in the works and interests of our students that may be missed when you work closely with the same students on a daily basis,” shares Joshua Cross, Hesston College art professor.

The annual exhibit features two-dimensional and three-dimensional works submitted by students from across all majors, offering a glimpse into the depth of artistic exploration happening on campus.

The exhibit is open to the public through May 1. Admission is free, and visitors are encouraged to stop by and celebrate the work of these award-winning student artists.

below 2026 juried student art exhibit winners: (top) Best of Show — “Tomorrow” by Constance Feldt; (bottom left) Merit Award I — “Though I Have Grown Old the Bell Still Rings” by Anna Franco; (bottom center) Merit Award II — “Growing Wild” by Elsa Rayneau; (bottom right) Juror’s Choice — “Weirdo” by Evelyn Gaertner