Maryland Creative Arts Competition Results

More than 110 entries were submitted to the local competition this year by Veterans receiving care at the VA Maryland Health Care System. The Maryland competition wrapped up with a showcase at the Maryland State Fair on September 6. Many of the Veterans entering the competition participated in the showcase, displaying their artwork and performing in a live stage show which was followed by an awards ceremony. Entries taking 1st place in Maryland will now advance to compete nationally against 1st place winners in other states.

Congratulations to all of our Veterans who participated in the 2025 Maryland Veterans Creative Arts Competition!

VISUAL ARTS                            

Acrylic Painting

1st Place - “Three’s Company” by John Keaton

2nd Place - “Bulle Rock” by Michael Sweet

3rd Place - “Tranquil Distress” by Jennifer Ellington

Pastels

1st Place - “Rainbow Sherbert Skies & Shaded Palms” by Sheni “Sunny” Suntory              

Monochromatic Drawing

1st Place - “The Protector” by John Keaton       

2nd Place - “Drawing of Muhammad Ali” by Chad Lewis         

3rd Place “There’s Beauty in the Struggle” by Randolph Cockrell

Colored Drawing

1st Place - “Dancing Flowers!!” by Nicole Spencer       

2nd Place - “Backyard Birds – Two House Finches” by Hal Long         

3rd Place - “Focus” by Sheni “Sunny” Suntory

Suncatcher/Sand Art

1st Place - “Deep Blue Sea” by Debora Rankin            

Black & White Photography

1st Place - “BB King All Stars Play” by Ronald Susi

2nd Place - “The Crossing” by Nick Bearman     

Colored Photography

1st Place - “Pointing to Heavens” by Ronald Susi         

2nd Place - “Wirthmore Feeds/Carrol County, MD” by Erin Bartholomew 

3rd Place - “Before the Last Ripple” by Christine Ferris 

Collage        

1st Place - “Strength” by Constance Rosser       

2nd Place - “Honoring My Dad’s Service in the Air Force” by Deborah Powe        

Diorama

1st Place - “Uncle Dewey” by Gary Owens        

2nd Place - “Adaptation” by Lesley Fagan 

3rd Place - “Four Corners: Conception” by Patricia Hill

Mixed Media

1st Place - “Full Bloom” by Christine Ferris        

2nd Place - “Colorado, an Aerial Perspective” by John Hunter  

Pottery

1st Place - “Patriotic Butterfly Mug Vase” by E. Renee Simmons         

2nd Place - “Nighttime Comfort” by Debora Rankin      

Woodworking/Lathework       

1st Place - “Nautical Nest” by Carrie Howell                

Glasswork   

1st Place - “Small Butterfly Tray/Take Flight” by E. Renee Simmons               

Mosaic

1st Place - “Dreams of Summer” by Meg Hill-Grigson

2nd Place - “Disconcerted” by Joyce McKee

3rd Place - “Love is Love” by Debora Rankin

Mosaic Kit   

1st Place - “Sun and Moon” by Susan Sanborn   

2nd Place - “The Cardinals” by Lesley Fagan      

Crocheting/Knitting/Knotting

1st Place - “Wearing the Unholdable” by Rachel Isgrig  

2nd Place - “Crazy Warm” by Laura Barclay       

3rd Place - “Custom Hand-Made Tzitzit with Beads (set of 4)” by Cheryl Smith-Yisarel

Needlework Pattern       

1st Place - “The Knight Errant” by Lesley Fagan          

Needlework Kit

1st Place - “American Flag by Antique Needlework Design” by Erin Bartholomew    

2nd Place - “Carousel” by Rose Matchett  

3rd Place - “Freedom” by Constance Rosser

Mental Health Recovery

1st Place - “Blue Star Families: The Healing Process Rite of Passage” by Irene Zoppi             

Military Combat Experience

1st Place - “Extraction from The Rock Pile, Vietnam, 1971” by Hal Long               

Group Art    

1st Place - “Flower Vase” by MooreKatz (Brandon Moore & Kathleen Costello)

CREATIVE WRITING                

Rhyming Poetry – Inspirational        

1st Place - “Oh Harriet Tubman” by William Epps                 

Rhyming Poetry – General Topic

1st Place - “Where Am I” by Abbey Ketterling    

2nd Place - “Mountain” by E. Renee Simmons    

3rd Place - “Afterlife” by Jennifer Ellington

Non-Rhyming Poetry – Military Experience

1st Place - “Interrogation Room” by Robert Bickle                

Non-Rhyming Poetry – Inspirational

1st Place - “The Rider” by Robert Bickle

2nd Place - “I Like it Light” by Will Hendrick      

Non-Rhyming Poetry – General Topic

1st Place - “She Never Writes Anymore” by Ryan Davidson

2nd Place - “I Saw Him” by Susan Sanborn        

3rd Place - “River” by Robert Bickle

Short, Short Story – Military Experience

1st Place - “We Are Veterans” by Forrest Poindexter, Kenneth Buie, and Shonda Hunt      

2nd Place - “Leon Bailey The Dream Navy Pride” by Leon Bailey         

Short, Short Story – Inspirational

1st Place - “Sherbert Skies & Shaded Palms” by Sheni “Sunny” Suntory

2nd Place - “Skyler the Stuttering Rabbit” by Charley McCoy   

Short, Short Story – General Topic

1st Place - “Shipbreaker” by Ryan Davidson      

2nd Place - “Life Lessons and Cinnamon Schnapps” by Abbey Ketterling

3rd Place - “The Devil, A Roman Tale” by Ronald Susi

Personal Essay     

1st Place - “Third is the Charm” by Forrest Poindexter

2nd Place - “When My Body Captured My Soul” by Patricia Hill

3rd Place - “Support for the Arts” by Charles Tucker

DRAMA                             

Dramatic Prose

1st Place - “I Too (by Langston Hughes)” by Patricia Graves   

2nd Place - “Support for the Arts” by Charles Tucker    

Inspirational Poetry

1st Place - “I Like it Light” by Will Hendrick                

DANCE                             

Modern/Contemporary

1st Place - “Break Every Chain” by Patricia Graves                

MUSIC                              

Vocal Solo Country/Folk/Bluegrass

1st Place - “I’ll Think of Something (by Mark Chesnut)” by William “Bill” Harkins         

2nd Place - “Time After Time” by Charles Tucker         

Vocal Solo Pop

1st Place - “Anyone” by William “Bill” Harkins             

Vocal Solo Rock/Blues

1st Place - “Blues Medley” by Reggie Thomas

2nd Place - “With or Without You (by U2)” by William “Bill” Harkins        

Vocal Rap/HipHop

1st Place - “Dear God” by Kevin Curry           

Vocal Solo Jazz     

1st Place - “The Shadow of Your Smile” by Reggie Thomas           

Vocal R&B/Soul/Funk    

1st Place - “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” by Reggie Thomas        

Vocal Broadway    

1st Place - “Somewhere (from West Side Story)” by E. Renee Simmons

Vocal Patriotic      

1st Place - “Star Spangled Banner” by Patricia Graves  

Vocal Spiritual

1st Place - “The Anchor Holds” by Duane Economos    

2nd Place - “Safe in His Arms (by Vicki Winans)” by Patricia Graves

3rd Place - “Life Every Voice and Sing” by E. Renee Simmons

Original Vocal – General Topic          

1st Place - “One More Time” by Duane Economos       

2nd Place - “Grace and Mercy” by Kevin Curry

3rd Place - “Psalm 41” by E. Renee Simmons

Instrumental Country/Folk/Bluegrass

1st Place - “Wayfaring Stranger” by Roger Bennett  

Special Recognition

1st Place - “Not So Long Ago” by Terry Stokes

2nd Place - “Let You Go” by Susan Sanborn