As part of the 25th annual Ocean County Teen Arts Festival, a visual arts and creative writing reception was held at Ocean County College, Toms River, March 24. The reception honored those students whose work received a Critique for Excellence and who will represent Ocean County at the state festival May 26-27 at The College of New Jersey, Ewing.
"The Teen Arts Festival provides a showcase for young artists’ visual, performing and literary achievements," explained Bobbi Krantz, Ocean County Teen Arts coordinator and director of the OCC Fine Arts Center.
The following local high school students received a Critique of Excellence:
For artwork: Kathryn Raynor (Brick Memorial High School) and Katherine Biese (Jackson Memorial High School).
For music (large instrumental): Jack-son Memorial High School Jazz Band.
Small Vocal: Marisa Caro (Jackson Memorial High School).
Literary arts: Rocio DeLao (Jackson Memorial) and Justin McDonnell (Jackson Memorial) for creative writing.
The Ocean County Teen Arts Festival is funded by the New Jersey Council on the Arts/Department of State through grant funds administered by the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission with additional funding from the Friends of Teen Arts, the Ocean County Board of Freeholders, Ocean County College, Ocean County high schools, SI Bank and Trust Foundation, Sovereign Bank, Krantz and Sirota, DDS, PA, Dr. William Herbstman, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Marks and Dr. and Mrs. John Kukucka.