Marlena Myles, a self-taught Spirit Lake Dakota artist in St. Paul, Minnesota, brings Indigenous history, language, and traditions into modern contexts through children’s books, augmented reality, murals, and more. Her notable works include augmented reality public art installations such as the Dakota Spirit Walk, Sacred Hoop Walk, and Wodakota Walk. She has exhibited at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and other prestigious galleries, created a Google Doodle, and launched Wíyouŋkihipi Productions to promote Dakota culture. In 2023, she won the Knight Arts + Tech Fellowship and the Joyce Award, and created her first documentary, Realms of Resilience. 

Chidera Oforkansi is currently a junior at George Bush High School. With a strong passion for art, she strives to create pieces that depict the daily struggles of people, and she consistently finds inspiration in societal issues. This strong passion for art led her to join NAHS during her freshman year; she has since evolved not only as an artist, but also as a person. Being in NAHS has transformed the way Chidera approaches leading others by pushing her to be a compassionate and patient leader. Chidera hopes to someday become an artist who tackles challenging topics in unconventional ways while spreading her love of the visual arts to the rest of the world. 

I am Tanvi Kulshreshtha, a sophomore at BASIS Phoenix. Art has been a cornerstone in my life for nearly a decade as a steady outlet I have turned to: I have moved across three countries and multiple schools. My favorite art form is painting with acrylic paints because it allows for vibrant layering and depth. I especially enjoy painting people, as it offers the chance to capture the essence and character of an entire person on canvas. Through expression, posture, and even light and shadow, I can convey the individuality and emotions of my subjects in a way that feels both personal and profound. My appreciation for the arts is rooted in a desire to use it as a medium to inspire others, make a positive difference, and uplift voices. I strive to balance artistic skills and innovation with responsibility and compassion. My repeated leadership and artistic journey have honed me into a trusted, hardworking, and pioneering leader. 

Evan is grateful to further the arts in any way that he can. Other honors include: Jury-Selected Artist “Art on the Trail” 2023; Jury-Selected Artist Mass Cultural Council Hopkinton Diversity Mural 2024; Mass Cultural Council Grant Recipient to create first-ever Hopkinton Art Walk; Samsung American Legion Scholarship Recipient; Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2021, National Reflections Literary Award Winner; Knights of Columbus Leadership Award First Place MA; Eversource Environmental Energy Conservation First Place State Winner. Extracurricular activities: Hopkinton High School NHS and NAHS; varsity track and field; varsity football; athletic office liaison to student council; weightlifting club; published artist in Marginal Literary Magazine. Community service: Evan serves as the official Broadway blogger for the Hanover Theater, MA’s second largest theater; The Memory Project for Africa; together with his brother, Evan created a rock garden at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in honor of his mom. Evan is a global ambassador to Ukraine with Soles4Souls, where he has personally collected, cleaned, and shipped over 3,000 pairs of gently used shoes since the outbreak of the war with Russia. He is also a three-time championship head coach for recreational youth basketball. Evan is an active fund-raiser for the Jimmy Fund, having completed the walk twice in honor of his friend Chris. Work experience: Evan created his own company, Evan-Uber, which serves as a shuttle service for the children of working parents. Evan was a legislative research intern for his local state representative this summer. Previously he served as a senior counselor at the Metrowest YMCA, where he received an award for his service. 

Sabrea Jordan (She/Her) is a 12th grader from Jackson, MS, where she is a visual arts student at Ida B. Wells APAC, and she also attends the advanced academic program at Murrah High School. She has been a member of NJAHS (2019–2021) and NAHS (2021–present), where she has served as NJAHS President and NAHS Secretary, Vice President, and President. 

Sabrea credits her participation in NAHS to leading her to her chosen future career in art education. Her passion and drive have led to her teaching art at the Mississippi Museum of Art, as well as receiving the 2024 NAHS Secondary Rising Star Award in Minneapolis. As a creative artist, Sabrea has received numerous art awards and opportunities to have her work displayed. These include being juried into the NAHS Juried Student Showcase in 2022, receiving a national Scholastic Art & Writing Silver Medal in 2024, and 14 regional Scholastic Keys. Additionally, her artwork has been published in multiple literary magazines and displayed in multiple museums and exhibitions, such as the Mississippi Museum of Art and Mississippi Crafts Center, and she was recently chosen to have multiple pieces displayed in the Black Art Now exhibit at the MMA.  

Outside of NAHS and art, Sabrea is a member of speech and debate, book club, and the Pleiades Literary Magazine, and she is also an honor roll student. Sabrea plans on majoring in art education in college, and she looks forward to being a member of NAEA in the future. 

I am Shriya Sharma, and I am a senior who loves to make art! I am currently the president of my school’s art club, NAHS chapter, and Science Olympiad team. I enjoy dabbling in the natural sciences due to the beauty and inspirational nature of nature! I enjoy reading art history–related materials both outside and inside of class, and I love visiting museums and galleries. I also love working with children and doing charity! I have participated in all of my school’s art auctions for charity and have donated many pieces to these auctions, which I also helped set up. I am a paid tutor at Mathnasium, and I also tutor kids in the humanities at my school. I enjoy studying history, art, and languages. I find languages, especially Latin, very relevant in the art history field, and I have participated in the National Latin Exam, where I placed second, and I also earned an honorable mention. Additionally, I am a member of my school’s HOSA chapter and academic team (which placed fourth at the state championship in 2023). I like doing many things, including playing the piano, but ultimately, I always fall back to art. I have heavily dedicated myself to art in high school (art is the top priority on my schedule), and I hope to become an art curator one day—or if I am lucky enough, maybe an artist. Next year I plan to double major in studio arts and art history at a small college, and I will most likely minor in science.