2024–2025 NAHS/NJAHS National Student Council Ambassadors

Student Name: Chidera Oforkansi
NAHS Sponsor Name: Kimberly Bolt
School Name: George Bush High School
City, State: Richmond, TX

Student Bio:
Chidera Oforkansi is currently a junior at George Bush High School. With a strong passion for art, she strives to create pieces that depict the daily struggles of people, and she consistently finds inspiration in societal issues. This strong passion for art led her to join NAHS during her freshman year; she has since evolved not only as an artist, but also as a person. Being in NAHS has transformed the way Chidera approaches leading others by pushing her to be a compassionate and patient leader. Chidera hopes to someday become an artist that tackles challenging topics in unconventional ways while spreading her love of the visual arts to the rest of the world.

Student Name: Ella Grail
NAHS Sponsor Name: Lindsay Wede
School Name: Ames High School
City, State: Ames, IA

Student Bio:
Ella Grail is currently a sophomore at Ames High School, located near Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She is a driven artist with an extensive contest and exhibit history. She has been an active and engaged participant in NAHS and NJAHS starting in 2021. During those years, she has done extensive service, including The Memory Project, Hospice Project, and volunteering at local art events. Throughout her time in NAHS, she has risen to a leadership position for her school’s chapter. Highlights for Ella have included being the state winner for Doodle for Google, attending the first National Art Honor Society Conference, and becoming a finalist for the Unsung Heroes project.

Student Name: Cailyn Choi
NAHS Sponsor Name: Ji Hoon Lee
School Name: Lakeside School
City, State: Seattle, WA

Student Bio:
Cailyn Choi, a stationary geek and art enthusiast, is currently a junior at Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington. She loves all kinds of arts—drawing and painting, photography, mixed media, and more—and will take any opportunity she can get to make something creative! She believes that art is one’s voice and way of expression, and she encourages everyone to use their creativity, regardless of skill level, to participate in something artsy. Whether it’s cooking or baking, drawing, singing, playing an instrument, dancing, or anything else, Cailyn hopes people can find their creative outlet for speaking their truth through creativity. She has also recently become interested in video making and vlogging, and she looks forward to exploring new artistic styles in the upcoming year. When she is not at school or in the studio, she loves to golf with her friends and family or take naps with her Maltese.

Student Name: Tanvi Kulshreshtha
NAHS Sponsor Name: Lacey Williams
School Name: BASIS Phoenix
City, State: Phoenix, AZ

Student Bio:
I am Tanvi Kulshreshtha, a sophomore at BASIS Phoenix. Art has been a cornerstone in my life for nearly a decade as a steady outlet I have turned to: I have moved across three countries and multiple schools. My favorite art form is painting with acrylic paints because it allows for vibrant layering and depth. I especially enjoy painting people, as it offers the chance to capture the essence and character of an entire person on canvas. Through expression, posture, and even light and shadow, I can convey the individuality and emotions of my subjects in a way that feels both personal and profound. My appreciation for the arts is rooted in a desire to use it as a medium to inspire others, make a positive difference, and uplift voices. I strive to balance artistic skills and innovation with responsibility and compassion. My repeated leadership and artistic journey have honed me into a trusted, hardworking, and pioneering leader.

Student Name: Jace Walker
NAHS Sponsor Name: Stephanie Silverman
School Name: Archmere Academy
City, State: Claymont, DE

Student Bio:
My name is Jace Walker, and I am the NAHS President of my chapter at Archmere Academy in Wilmington, DE. “Interdisciplinary” is an essential word to describe my work as an artist. I am always open-minded in working with new materials to communicate my ideas because different media have different capabilities. I am motivated to create when I immerse myself in nature, visit a museum, or just walk around a city. I love exploring, meeting new people, and learning about other people’s cultures. I get inspired by the works of other artists and I push myself to create something of the same caliber. Since seeing all types of art is a source of inspiration for me, meeting other artists and learning about their creative processes is very important to me. In college, I want to continue creating art, drawing inspiration from my talented peers and experienced teachers. At the same time, I want to take business and entrepreneurial classes to help me open my own art gallery in the future. I plan to study abroad in college and continue traveling during and after college. I speak Spanish, so it would be fascinating to become a part of the lively art scenes in Spain and other Hispanic countries. I am not entirely sure of what my future holds, but I know for certain that art will be an essential aspect of it.

Student Name: Evan Andrew Fitzpatrick
NAHS Sponsor Name: Christine Enos
School Name: Hopkinton High School
City, State: Hopkinton, MA

Student Bio:
Evan is grateful to further the arts in any way that he can. Other honors include: Jury-Selected Artist “Art on the Trail” 2023; Jury-Selected Artist Mass Cultural Council Hopkinton Diversity Mural 2024; Mass Cultural Council Grant Recipient to create first-ever Hopkinton Art Walk; Samsung American Legion Scholarship Recipient; Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2021, National Reflections Literary Award Winner; Knights of Columbus Leadership Award First Place MA; Eversource Environmental Energy Conservation First Place State Winner. Extracurricular activities: Hopkinton High School NHS and NAHS; varsity track and field; varsity football; athletic office liaison to student council; weightlifting club; published artist in Marginal Literary Magazine. Community service: Evan serves as the official Broadway blogger for the Hanover Theater, MA’s second largest theater; The Memory Project for Africa; together with his brother, Evan created a rock garden at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in honor of his mom. Evan is a global ambassador to Ukraine with Soles4Souls where he has personally collected, cleaned, and shipped over 3,000 pairs of gently used shoes since the outbreak of the war with Russia. He is also a three-time championship head coach for recreational youth basketball. Evan is an active fund-raiser for the Jimmy Fund, having completed the walk twice in honor of his friend Chris. Work experience: Evan created his own company, Evan-Uber, which serves as a shuttle service for the children of working parents. Evan was a legislative research intern for his local state representative this summer. Previously he served as a senior counselor at the Metrowest YMCA, where he received an award for his service.

Student Name: Sabrea Jordan
NAHS Sponsor Name: Renna Moore-Edwards
School Name: Ida B. Wells Academic & Performing Arts Complex (APAC)
City, State: Jackson, MS

Student Bio:
Sabrea Jordan (She/Her) is a 12th grader from Jackson, MS, where she is a visual arts student at Ida B. Wells APAC, and she also attends the advanced academic program at Murrah High School. She has been a member of NJAHS (2019–2021) and NAHS (2021–present), where she has served as NJAHS President and NAHS Secretary, Vice President, and President.

Sabrea credits her participation in NAHS to leading her to her chosen future career in art education. Her passion and drive have led to her teaching art at the Mississippi Museum of Art, as well as receiving the 2024 NAHS Secondary Rising Star Award in Minneapolis. As a creative artist, Sabrea has received numerous art awards and opportunities to have her work displayed. These include being juried into the NAHS Juried Student Showcase in 2022, receiving a national Scholastic Art & Writing Silver Medal in 2024, and 14 regional Scholastic Keys. Additionally, her artwork has been published in multiple literary magazines and displayed in multiple museums and exhibitions, such as the Mississippi Museum of Art and Mississippi Crafts Center, and she was recently chosen to have multiple pieces displayed in the Black Art Now exhibit at the MMA.

Outside of NAHS and art, Sabrea is a member of speech and debate, book club, and the Pleiades Literary Magazine, and she is also an honor roll student. Sabrea plans on majoring in art education in college, and she looks forward to being a member of NAEA in the future.

Student Name: Shriya Sharma
NAHS Sponsor Name: Cathi Warren
School Name: North Oconee High School
City, State: Bogart, GA

Student Bio:
I am Shriya Sharma, and I am a senior who loves to make art! I am currently the president of my school’s art club, NAHS chapter, and Science Olympiad team. I enjoy dabbling in the natural sciences due to the beauty and inspirational nature of nature! I enjoy reading art history–related materials both outside and inside of class, and I love visiting museums and galleries. I also love working with children and doing charity! I have participated in all of my school’s art auctions for charity and have donated many pieces to these auctions, which I also helped set up. I am a paid tutor at Mathnasium, and I also tutor kids in the humanities at my school. I enjoy studying history, art, and languages. I find languages, especially Latin, very relevant in the art history field, and I have participated in the National Latin Exam, where I placed second, and I also earned an honorable mention. Additionally, I am a member of my school’s HOSA chapter and academic team (which placed fourth at the state championship in 2023). I like doing many things, including playing the piano, but ultimately, I always fall back to art. I have heavily dedicated myself to art in high school (art is the top priority on my schedule), and I hope to become an art curator one day—or if I am lucky enough, maybe an artist. Next year I plan to double major in studio arts and art history at a small college, and I will most likely minor in science.

Student Name: Charlotte Martin
NJAHS Sponsor Name: Marisa Pappas
School Name: Taylor Middle School
City, State: Warrenton, VA

Student Bio:
Charlotte Martin is a dedicated and talented 13-year-old student currently in the 8th grade at Taylor Middle School in Warrenton, Virginia. She is enrolled in the gifted and talented program, excelling in both language arts and mathematics. In addition to her academic achievements, Charlotte has shown remarkable creativity and skill in the arts.

Over the past 2 years, Charlotte has contributed significantly to the set production of the school plays, including Cinderella and Seussical. She has also played a key role in the successful completion of a four-panel mural in the school library, showcasing her commitment to enhancing the school’s artistic environment.

As a proactive leader, Charlotte takes initiative in organizing and completing tasks. She actively recruits student volunteers and ensures projects are executed efficiently and effectively. Currently, Charlotte serves as the copresident of the Taylor Middle School National Junior Art Honor Society (NJAHS) chapter. She is already planning a family paint night and is developing an art activity in collaboration with a local elementary school, further demonstrating her passion for art and community engagement.

Student Name: Alani Francis
NJAHS Sponsor Name: Shanna Smith
School Name: Dekalb Christain Homeschool
City, State: Stone Mountain, GA

Student Bio:
My name is Alani Francis, and I’m from Stone Mountain, Georgia. I’ve been passionate about the arts for as long as I can remember, and creating has always been a big part of who I am. My interests in the arts range from photography, which I pursue under my business name Artistic Freedom, to painting with oils, acrylics, and pastels, as well as digital drawing and apparel design. I’ve even created custom shirt designs, some of which I’ve sold and others I’ve made just for myself.

In 2023, I had the opportunity to showcase my work at the Kidpreneur event with Dekalb Christian Home Educators. I sold some of my original paintings and photography, which was a really exciting experience that made me realize how much I enjoy sharing my art with others. I also love experimenting with new techniques in my artwork. Besides visual arts, I also play piano, which allows me to explore my creative side in another way.

Volunteering and helping my community are really important to me. I’ve been involved with Foundation Church, where I helped organize and hand out food and clothes to those in need. I also assisted with relocating people in the community by helping them pack and move their belongings. I started volunteering with the church back in 2017, took a break during COVID, and resumed again in 2023. I find a lot of joy in being able to support others.

In 2023, I was commissioned to do a family photo shoot, which was a huge milestone for me as a photographer. This summer, I also worked as a babysitter, which helped me build responsibility and work experience.

At school, I’m an active member of the student council and the National Art Honor Society. I love being part of a community that shares my passion for art. Being able to combine my creativity with leadership and compassion is something I really value, and I look forward to continuing to grow as both an artist and a leader.