Several studies show that students whose school curriculum includes art every year from kindergarten through 12th grade achieve 46 percent higher SAT scores than those who don’t receive art in school, said Pam McLaughlin, who teaches an after-school art program at Appleton Elementary.

McLaughlin would like to see art be a regular, required part of schools’ curriculums.

“There’s not enough art for kids. Right now unless schools have an artist-in-residence or are participating in the art heritage program (both nonmandatory, largely volunteer programs), students really don’t get art unless the teacher (makes time for it),” McLaughlin said.

Each year McLaughlin, who’s an artist, attends the National Western Stock Show in Denver to view the work of nationally known artists at the Coors Western Art Exhibit there.

Two years ago McLaughlin discovered the stock show had a Youth Art Show — a statewide contest for students in first through fifth grades.

She quickly involved her own students.

This year’s art show theme was any type of animal.

McLauglin spread out photographs she’d taken of various animals over the school’s library floor. Students could choose a photograph for ideas, or come up with something on their own.

Out of approximately 300 entries statewide, 20 champions, 20 reserve champions and one grand champion for each grade were awarded.

Appleton students placed well for the second consecutive year.

Eight students took home four champion and four reserve champion awards. Their artworks were also exhibited in Denver during the 2008 National Western Stock Show, January 12-27.

Hunter Whaley, 11, received one of the reserve champion awards for a watercolor picture of a buffalo. The painting includes a colorful sunset behind mountains.

“When I got the note, I jumped up and down and did a little dance,” Whaley said.

He said the picture will probably be hung in a place in his house where “everyone can see it.”

But first, each of the students’ entries are being shown in the Appleton Elementary library until May 15, when fellow students choose their favorite pictures for a “students’ choice” award.

All of the students’ work “was incredible,” McLaughlin said.

Local champions and reserve champions went to: Nina Cruz (grand champion, third grade); Molly Swinger (champion, first grade); Luke Oleson (champion, first grade); Braden Turner (champion, fourth grade); Torin Johnson (reserve champion, third grade); Jenna Oleson (reserve champion, fourth grade); Hunter Whaley (reserve champion, fifth grade); and Emme Brown (reserve champion, second grade, Holy Family School).

Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.