Steeplechase Children's Art Show Announces This Year's Winners

The 2025 Steeplechase Children's Art Show's Best in Show Award has been given to Tytasia Thomas (8th grade) from Midland Middle School.

On November 15, Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens will celebrate its 41st annual Race for the Arts. All proceeds raised benefit six local arts organizations: The Columbus Museum, Springer Opera House, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Callaway Gardens, and Historic Columbus. Steeplechase has raised over $4 million for its beneficiaries over the last four decades.

More than a Fundraiser

In addition to being a benefit for several major arts organizations across the region, Steeplechase has a long-held tradition that emphasizes the importance of arts education and highlights the young creative talent our region consistently produces. The annual Steeplechase Children's Art Contest is open to children across the Chattahoochee Valley and awards prizes to winners of all ages.

While the contest is a beloved tradition that accompanies the Race for the Arts, many do not realize its intention and impact. This year's Children's Art Show Chair was excited to share more about why the contest exists and the many children it reaches.

"I was so excited and thrilled to be asked to be the Children's Art Show chair this year," said Sally Norman. "I am not an artist, but I have so much love and appreciation for the arts in our community! The Steeplechase Children's Art show is a wonderful way to honor our local arts educators who pour so much time and love into children across the region. Steeplechase intentionally hosts this contest to provide a platform for children to display their imagination and creativity. It's well known that Columbus, Georgia is a city full of many amazing artists, but this contest is exciting because it highlights the future of the arts in our community. I cannot wait to see all of the wonderful art that will come from our local children in the years to come!"

For the past several months, Norman and her committee of volunteers have worked with fine arts educators at local schools to gather all of the artwork entered into the contest this year. Then, the work was judged by professional artists Libbie Rothschild, Lulie Wallace and Jennifer Keim Schwartz. All three are Columbus, Georgia natives who specialize in different mediums and graciously volunteered their time to serve as this year's judges. Winners were notified earlier this week, and will be honored at a reception at The Columbus Museum later this month.

This year's Steeplechase Children's Art Show winners are...

A selection of a few of this year's entries.

Best in Show-

Tytasia Thomas (8th grade) Midland Middle School

2025 1st place Photography-

Neena Paul (9th grade) Columbus High School

Two Dimensional

Grades K-2:

1st place: Mia Young (2nd grade)- Brookstone School

2nd place: Evelyn Ramsey (1st grade)- Brookstone School

Honorable Mentions:

Melanie Ramos Villafuerte (2nd Grade)- River Road Elementary

Thomas Overtree (2nd grade)- River Road Elementary

Ava Byll (2nd grade)- St. Luke School

Isabel Cancinos (1st grade) Eagle Ridge Academy

Grades 3-5:

1st place: Talia Gunn (3rd grade)- Eagle Ridge Academy

2nd place: Anna Sardinas (4th grade) Wynnbrook Christian School

Honorable Mentions:

Darnell Passmore (5th grade)- Dorothy Height Elementary School

Olivia Johnson (5th grade)- River Road Elementary School

Lily Turner (5th grade)- Brookstone School

Rima Vinayak (3rd grade)- Eagle Ridge Academy

Avlani Jones (3rd grade) Wynnbrook Christian School

Grades 6-8:

1st place: Nia Nguyen (7th grade)- Midland Middle School

2nd place:Autumn Murray (8th grade)- Midland Middle School

Honorable Mentions:

Libby Fullerton (8th grade)- Wynnbrook Christian School

Isaiah Guest (8th grade) Midland Middle School

Joslyn Coutts (8th grade) Midland Middle school

Grades 9-12:

1st place: Chaewon Ryu (9th grade) Columbus High School

2nd place: Kaylee Carter (11th grade) Columbus High School

Honorable Mentions:

 Anna Paige Miller (12th grade) Brookstone School

Gabi Enriquez (11th grade) St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School

Grace Rogers (12th grade) St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School

Gigi Waldrep (12th grade) Brookstone School

Three Dimensional

Grades 3-5:

1st place: Katy Joy Dubose (4th grade) Wynnbook Christian School

Honorable Mention:

Chiara Sherwood (5th) St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School

Grades 6-8:

1st place: Rosemary Thigpen (7th grade) St. Anne-Pacelli

Honorable Mentions:

Mia Tolman (7th grade) St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School

Lucia Geis (8th grade) St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School

Jaden Dubose (8th grade) Wynnbrook Christian School

See the Art on Race Day!

A selection of this year's winners will be on display at Steeplechase on November 15. The exhibition will be on site, and the organization is encouraging everyone in attendance to make time to view the show throughout the day. The contest serves as a vital reminder of why Steeplechase continues to be a beloved tradition for so many every year.

Still need tickets to Steeplechase?

To learn more about Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens, or to purchase tickets to the 41st annual Race for the Arts, click here.  Remember, a portion of every ticket sold goes directly back into the arts in Columbus, Georgia. See you at the track! ◾️

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