A number of talented Long Beach High School students have recently earned awards and honors for their artwork and photography. Art and photography class participants enter a number of competitions and exhibits each year and have contributed to a longstanding history of accomplishments that exists within the Media, Visual and Performing Arts Department.

Isabella Defrancesco, a junior, was named a regional finalist in the Nassau Region PTA Reflections Contest after originally being chosen as the PTA-sponsored schoolwide Reflections competition. Recognized for her photography submission, she now has the prospect of advancing to a state finalist. This year’s National PTA Reflections theme is “Let Your Imagination Fly.”

Photography students also received a total of seven awards in the Photographic Foundation of Long Island Youth Showcase competition. They will now proceed to the Photographic Society of America, an international contest.     

Hannah Lerner, a senior, won first place in the monochromatic category, and Brigette Cruz, a junior, earned second place in the color choice category. Junior Lindsay Kranitz achieved first place in photojournalism and second place in the monochromatic category, and Kristen Miciotta, also a junior, won third place for the digital photojournalism category. Junior Cindy Reyes earned second place in the scapes category and senior Jordan Torregrossa achieved second place in the digital scapes category.

Students excelled in both photography and other art categories at the Nassau Community College "What Matters" Art competition. Junior Lea Jaffe received an Award of Excellence for photography, and senior Klaudia Sarno earned this distinction for her painting entry. Senior Amber Werner and junior Noelani Tomicick received Honorable Mentions for their ceramics and painting work, respectively.