The competition begins with a photo submission stage, where an exhibition team reviews all entries before being evaluated by jurors. Only selected works move on to the final exhibition, which will be showcased at NCECA’s national conference in March in Detroit, Michigan. This process ensures that every piece is carefully examined and judged fairly among entries from schools across the country.

Shadow Ridge students are currently waiting for results from the preliminary round. Final selections will be announced on February 19, 2026. Students whose work advances to the final exhibition will be notified and become eligible for college scholarships connected to the program, offering valuable support for those planning to continue their education in the arts.

If selected, the students’ ceramic pieces will be mailed to Detroit for the exhibition and later returned to the school once the showcase ends. This allows students to experience a professional exhibition process while still keeping their original artwork.

According to Ms. Brackney, entering a national competition helps students learn what it means to present work professionally. Students must document their pieces through photography, meet submission guidelines, and understand how juried exhibitions operate. These experiences mirror what professional artists go through when submitting to galleries or art shows.

Alex Martinez, sophomore, shared, “It feels really cool knowing people outside our school might see what we made. I’ve never been part of something national before, so even just submitting my work makes me proud of how much I’ve improved.”

The exhibition is organized by K12Clay, a national organization that supports ceramic education for K–12 students. Their website, www.k12clay.org, features galleries of past exhibitions and information about how student work is selected and displayed. Seeing past entries helps students understand the level of craftsmanship and creativity expected in national shows.

For Shadow Ridge High School, entering this exhibition reflects the dedication of both students and teachers and highlights the strength of the school’s visual arts program. Creating ceramic art requires patience, technical skill, and creative thinking, and the submitted pieces represent weeks of careful work.

As the school community waits for the February announcement, students remain hopeful and proud to represent Shadow Ridge on a national stage. Whether or not the pieces are selected, participating in this competition gives students meaningful experience and shows how classroom art can reach far beyond school walls.