TOWSON, MD—The National Art Education Association (NAEA) Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota recently honored two Towson High School representatives.

Ray Aoki, a senior at Towson High School, received the Rising Stars Secondary Recognition Program Award for his work with the school’s National Art Honor Society and Teacher Academy of Maryland. He was nominated by his peers and a peer review process determined that he was a talented and active member of the National Art Honor Society.

Aoki’s commitment to sharing his love of art with others was praised by Towson High Visual Arts Department Chair Lindsay Miller, who said, “He has consistently demonstrated an exceptional level of talent, creativity, and a deep understanding of various art forms.”

Grace Harrison, a pre-service educator at Towson High School, received the Eastern Region Pre-Service Art Educator of the Year Award for her interest in art education and teaching methods. She is completing her master’s degree in art and teaching at the Maryland Institute College of Art and has experience teaching at two schools outside of Baltimore County.

Harrison’s nomination was based on a recommendation from Miller, who said, “Her interest in art education began when she taught at two schools in outside of Baltimore County. She is completing her student teaching placement with Miller at Towson High School. Harrison will graduate from MICA in May 2024.”

These awards recognize the talent and dedication of the two students as well as their contributions to the field of art education.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via BCPS on Flickr