Annually since 1999, the second year of the youth classes, Visual Arts Brampton has handed out its Youth Achievement Awards.

Meant to recognize the artistic levels of the students for their age, those entering can win an honourable mention, bronze, silver, or gold medallion. (A certificate of completion level existed at one point, but thankfully we haven't given it out for years now.) If a student wins five gold medallions, not necessarily consecutively, they win the Platinum Award; only Emily Kowalik has won this so far.

Participation levels have varied greatly over the years; total entrants to the levelling are represented in brackets in the section subheaders. Included on the page are articles published at the time of the awarding, and often simply a listing of winners.

Youth Achievement Award winners 1999 (27)

Youth Award Winners 1999
December 1999, VAB Expressions (now Creative Urges)

The following awards were presented to the 1999 Visual Arts Brampton Junior and Intermediate members on the 18th day of the month of December in the first Annual an award ceremony and pizza party. The award winners got actual medallions with their name, the year and the level etched on. All awards were selected and decided on by the VAB Board of Directors in a 4 hour long judging process a couple of weeks before the ceremony. The board individually looked at all the students portfolio boxes, and each decided on a ranking. All of the gold medal winners were rated gold without any debate.

Their names are permanently emblazoned on a plaque in the studio.

Youth Achievement Award winners 2004 (18)

Winter 2005, VAB Creative Urges

On the 18th of December, 2004, the sixth annual Youth Achievement Awards were held, to honour the creativity of our year-long youth art class students. This year had the lowest entrant rate, with only 18 entrants from a list of almost 50 eligible students. As a result of the turnout, next year's home assignment will be lessened.

On a positive note, this is the first year that all students entered received medallion standings, and no Honourable Mentions were handed out. The "thanks for trying" Certificate of Completion level, hasn't been awarded since at least 2001.c

Youth Achievement Award winners 2006 (35)

VAB youth art awards
January 13, 2006
The Brampton Guardian

Community art group Visual Arts Brampton handed out its 2005 Youth Achievement Awards recently. Thirty-five of the group's students entered into the year-end competition VAB holds, submitting their best artwork from the previous year.

Gold medallions were won by Jordan Aguiar, Elina Lex, Emeline Lex, Victoria Seo, Paulina Su, and Geoffrey Webster. Silvers went to Michele Alonso, Zahirah Bazurto, Krista Castelo, Alexander D'Amario, Harveen Dulai, Navjit Dulai, Alexis Roissl, Sanmar Saleh, Danielle Toner, Priya Mistry, Robert Pinchin, Makini Caliste-Woolard, and Nathalie Zonta. Natalie Waddell, Akilah Caliste-Wollard, Anita Campanelli, Peter Clinton, Cerise Hewling, Tristan Mac, Courtnie Mascoll Sylvester, Katelyn MacAulay, Vanessa Pina, Camilia Sukul, Jessica Taylor and Mariah Palmer. Nathaniel Belle, Matthew Lewis, Alexander Theriault and Zachary Theriault received honourable mentions.

Five-time gold medal winner Emily Kowalik's artwork is currently on display at VAB's Fridge Front Gallery, located in the west side of the Shoppers World mall.

VAB is entering its ninth year of youth classes, which run on Saturdays. Three timeslots are available, two for students aged 8 to 12 and one for teens. Held weekly for the entire year, the classes cost $250. Contact the Visual Arts Brampton studio for more information at 905-453-9142 or visit www.visualartsbrampton.com.