2023 First Place Winner
Just a Memory by Jennifer Draper, was the first place winner for Bousquet Holstein’s 15th annual photography contest. Draper, a junior at Cierco-North Syracuse High School, was awarded a $500 scholarship, and had her photograph featured on the cover of the firm’s Thanksgiving card.
Bousquet Holstein PLLC is pleased to announce the 2023 finalists and winners of its annual scholarship photography contest for local high school students in Onondaga and Tompkins Counties.
This year’s first place winner is “Just a Memory” by Jennifer Draper, a junior at Cicero North Syracuse High School. Second place went to “Midway” taken by Amanda Johnson of Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Third place was awarded to Lily Buyck from Charles W. Baker High School for her photograph “Old Architecture.”
Bousquet Holstein hosted the finalist reception on November 15 in the Everson Museum Auditorium, showcasing all 23 photographs and revealing this year’s winners. In an exciting return to an in-person ceremony, the students’ families joined Everson curators and Bousquet Holstein staff in the audience as students shared insights into their works while receiving certificates on stage.
In recognition of her exceptional talent, the firm awarded a $500 scholarship to Draper, and also made a $500 donation to her art/photography class, taught by Heather Blaski. As per firm tradition, the winning photograph graced the cover of our annual Thanksgiving Card, sent to over 8,000 of the firm’s clients and contacts.
The firm also awarded scholarship prizes to the second and third place winners.
Every year, our firm collaborates with the Everson Museum of Art to choose the theme of the contest. This year’s theme, “Americana,” was inspired by the exhibition “Native Americana” by Frank Buffalo Hyde.
Americana is broadly defined as anything associated with or characteristic of the culture, civilization, history, or geography of America. This year’s contest challenged student photographers to capture their personal definition of “Americana,” through the juxtaposition of their own history, lived experience, and culture with the broader iconography of America.
A panel of judges, comprised of Bousquet Holstein and Everson staff, meticulously evaluated all 132 entries based on creativity, composition, and relevance to the theme.
For the past 15 years, Bousquet Holstein has proudly hosted this photography contest as a commitment to supporting education and the arts in our community. Past winners and finalists have embarked on diverse paths, with some pursuing photography in higher education and others establishing successful careers in the field.
Given our presence in both Syracuse and Ithaca, the annual Bousquet Holstein Photography Contest is open to high school students in Onondaga County and Tompkins County. We welcome hundreds of entries each year and consistently recognize over 20 finalists.
View this year’s finalist images on our firm’s website at https://www.bhlawpllc.com/about-the-firm/annual-high-school-photography-contest/.
Entry forms will be available on our website for our 2024 contest in early spring.