Each spring, the Dora Khayatt Art Competition shines a spotlight on the amazing abilities of EA's student artists. This year, Upper School students submitted more than 120 stunning pieces in four categories: wood design and fabrication, photography, sculpture and ceramics, and 2D. The 2025 winners were revealed at the start of ArtsFest on Friday, April 25.
"ArtsFest and the Dora Khayatt Art Competition are more than an end-of-year celebration of the arts—it's a vibrant showcase of our students' imagination, resilience, and creative voice," said Visual Arts Department Chair David Sigel, Hon. "It reflects the soul of our community, where every artwork, beat, and performance tells a story. We’re proud to uplift the arts not just as a subject, but as a powerful way to connect, reflect, and inspire."
The 2025 winners included:
Wood Design and Fabrication
- 1st place: Maggie Rihn '26
- 2nd place: Jake Virbitsky '25
- 3rd place: Danny Hopkins '25
Photography
- 1st place: Tralynn Dover-Williams '27
- 2nd place: Kamau Kegler '27
- 3rd place: Max Boyko '28
Sculpture and Ceramics
- 1st place: Sophia Sturm '25
- 2nd place: Shea Chambers '25
- 3rd place: Minsi Cui '27
2D
- 1st place: Abigail Whitman '26
- 2nd place: Grace Rall '25
- 3rd place: Ava Munoz '26
Ryann Newcomb '26 also was celebrated for winning the Wearable Art Fashion Show contest held at the end of ArtsFest on April 25.
The winning artwork, along with the other submissions, can be found displayed in and around the Crawford Campus Center Gallery. See a slideshow of the winning pieces.
"It felt nice to win and know that others were as impressed with and proud of my work as I was," said Maggie Rihn '26. "I have always enjoyed art class, but I took a liking to woodworking during my freshman year. What I love most about the creative process is the problem solving you must do in order to make your piece perfect."
"The success of ArtsFest, along with the impressive spring exhibits displaying student artwork throughout all school buildings, is a testament to the dedication of our Visual Art Department: Julie Choi, Meghan Cangi-Mammele, Ellen Erikson, Hilary Hutchison, and John Binstock,” said Mr. Sigel. "I’m incredibly grateful to these talented and passionate teachers for all they do."
The Dora Khayatt Awards were established in 1990 in memory of Dora Khayatt, an artist and the wife of former EA Classics Department Chair John Plant. The Dora Khayatt fund provides annual support for student awards for excellence in the fine arts and music.
The annual competition is open to every interested Upper School student artist. The 12 winning pieces of art were evaluated and selected by six outside judges who are experts in their respective fields, including alumni Michael Maggio '76 of Scorpion Woodworks.