Twelve Putnam City students and one district art teacher will be honored at the State Superintendent's Arts Awards of Excellence ceremonies at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, at the Scottish Rite Temple in Guthrie. A reception begins at 6 p.m.

The ceremonies are centered each year on showcasing high school seniors who have excelled in fine arts disciplines and who have also been academically talented and active in their communities. Putnam City has more students being honored than any other district. Receiving medals from State Superintendent of Education Sandy Garrett will be:

Band
- Kristen Wheeler, Putnam City North High School

Drama/Theater
- Juliet Saylors, Putnam City West High School
- Jessica Sims, Putnam City West High School
Orchestra
- Emily Bowles, Putnam City West High School

Visual Art
- Brian Cole, Putnam City High School
- Kelvin Le, Putnam City High School
- Leah Leger, Putnam City North High School
- Minh Phan, Putnam City High School
- Laura York, Putnam City High School

Vocal Music
- Daisha Davick, Putnam City North High School
- Faryn Poff, Putnam City North High School
- Clark Torbert, Putnam City West High School

In addition to recognizing talented Oklahoma arts students, the event will also include recognition of outstanding art teachers. Putnam City High School art teacher Marty Bernich will receive the State Superintendent Fine Arts Educator Award for Visual Arts.

"Putnam City is proud of its fine arts students and the hard work behind the scenes of the educators committed to their success. Each day we grow in the realization that the arts in all the disciplines are at the core of the human experience," says Barbara Gabel, the fine arts curriculum specialist for Putnam City Schools.

Gabel says State Superintendent of Education Sandy Garrett, the Oklahoma Alliance for Arts Education and the Oklahoma Masonic Fraternity deserve thanks for working together to celebrate the accomplishments of talented young artists across the state.