Senior Drew Conrad, president of the Empty Bowls club, has lots of awards under his belt for his ceramics work.

In Junior Year, he won a Sargent Excellence Award.

His senior year, he’s won the Art Educator Award from MAEA. His work will be displayed in Virginia this year for two separate national shows. 

As if that wasn’t enough, he is also a two time gold key winner from the Scholastic Art and Writing awards. 

What some students may not know is that Drew Conrad started out just like many other students, in Ceramics I his freshman year. 

From there, he progressed to Ceramics II, several independent studies with the ceramics teacher Ms. Johnson, Ceramics III, and finally the new class AP 3-D this year. 

What motivated Drew to involve himself so much in ceramics?

The simple answer is his love for clay.

“In a world where our choices are often limited due to social pressure, and conflicting views, I find freedom in art and especially in ceramics which allows me to express my view of the world,” says Drew. 

While clay is his strongest media,Drew has been diversifying into 2-D and mixed media. Next year, he will be attending Alfred University for Ceramics and Art.

When asked what his advice for young students was, Drew said, “It is important to realize that art takes time. Practice and patience are your best friend. Take time to enjoy the art you make rather than stress over it.”