EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (Sept. 21, 2025) — After a several-year hiatus, the Excelsior Springs Area Cultural Guild’s youth arts contest returned with a reimagined format and fresh energy, drawing dozens of entries from across the region in visual art, poetry, and creative writing.
The newly expanded event, Arts from the Pumpkin Patch, opened to the public on Saturday with a showcase of K–8 student work at The Oaks Hotel. On Sunday afternoon, September 21, award recipients were recognized during a celebration that gave young artists the chance to speak about their creations or read their original written work aloud to the crowd.
A Wide Range of Creative Talent
Entries came from students attending schools in Excelsior Springs and surrounding areas, including Kearney, Lawson, Richmond, and beyond. Homeschoolers, public school students, and Montessori learners all contributed pieces inspired by autumn and Halloween themes.
Award-winning entries included sculptures like Chernobyl Mask and Clay Pumpkin by Theo Ruggles (Excelsior Springs Middle School), the detailed graphite drawing Harvest Cat by Olive Conyers, and multimedia projects like Halloween in Minecraft by Stella Smiatana (Crystal Waters Homeschool). Several young writers were also recognized for their standout work, including Sophia Smiatana’s chilling short story Alaskan Apocalypse and Simon Smiatana’s poem Free Fire.
The youngest entrants came from Lion’s Heart Montessori Preschool and Kindergarten, where students like Rhett Raines (Daddy Pumpkin), Maximilian DeLalla (Pumpkin in a Box), and Zion Alexander (Red Fall Ninja) showcased vibrant, imaginative pieces. Each entry was recognized with a certificate “For Excellence in Artistic Achievement.”
Other honored students included:
Emery Shelton (Lewis Elementary, Grade 2) – Mommie and Me and Princess Sophia
Naelynn Morgan (Winnetonka Elementary, Grade 5) – Pandemonium
Henry Jennings (Lawson Middle School, Grade 9) – Dragon’s Eye
Ny’Aliyah Madkins (Winnetonka Elementary, Grade 7) – Birdie Blue
Avianna Leathers (Winnetonka Elementary, Grade 3) – Blue Bird
Regan Bottoms (Lion’s Heart Montessori) – Penelope Pumpkin
Sawyer Taylor (Excelsior Springs Middle School, Grade 6) – Spookley & Friends
Nicholas DeLalla (Lion’s Heart Montessori) – Pumpkins Eating Seeds
Maverick Shelton (Treehouse Preschool) – The Lavanator
Looking Ahead to 2027
The Cultural Guild announced that the next installment of the youth arts contest will be held in the spring of 2027, a shift intended to increase participation and align more naturally with the academic calendar.
“By holding the contest near the end of the school year, we hope teachers will have the opportunity to build themes into their lesson plans and allow students to submit work they’ve already created in class,” event organizer Jill Clark explained. “We want this to grow into something the whole region looks forward to—something that celebrates creativity at every level.”
For more information about how you can get involved with future Cultural Guild art shows, contact Jill Clark at jillclark2write@gmail.com.
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