Royal student wins award in regional art show
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years AGO
An oil pastel of apples on a table won Royal High School student Fernando Ruiz-Cisneros a scholarship for art classes at Central Washington University.
Courtesy photo
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | March 17, 2021 1:00 AM
ROYAL CITY — Royal High School senior Fernandez Ruiz-Cisneros said he was looking for something to draw one afternoon in art class. The resulting piece won him a $2,000 scholarship from Central Washington University.
“I won what?” he said.
His oil pastel drawing of apples on a table was entered in the annual art contest sponsored by Education Service District 105. He was one of eight students in the district to win a scholarship to CWU.
“Oh, that sounds great,” Ruiz-Cisneros said.
“It’s really awesome,” said RHS art teacher Heidi Allen.
He was looking for a subject during a free drawing period one day, he said.
“I was just sitting there, didn’t know what to do,” Ruiz-Cisneros said.
Allen had some apples on a table, and he took that as his subject.
He used to focus on painting, but now he’s more interested in drawing, he said. He doesn’t have a favorite subject when it comes to creating art.
“If I see something like that looks good, then I’ll draw it,” he said.
Sometimes it’s just whatever subject comes to mind, he said.
This is the 48th annual art show sponsored by ESD 105, and for 2021 was moved online to www.esd105.org/2021ArtShow. Ruiz-Cisneros was one of eight RHS students to have artworks accepted for the gallery show.
The show attracted 81 entries by 64 students, representing 13 high schools in the ESD.
The art show will be online through the end of May.
Ruiz-Cisneros said while he likes art, he’s planning to pursue a career in medicine, with the intention of becoming a surgeon. He’s also looking at a career in business.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Road closures, roundabout, mean construction season underway
EPHRATA — The grass is starting to turn green, the trees are starting to leaf out, construction crews are starting to build roundabouts – hey, it’s spring. At least one roundabout project is in its final phase, held over from fall 2025. The intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way will be closed the week of April 6 to allow crews to install permanent lights. “This really is the final (closure),” wrote Grant County Administrator Tom Gaines in a media release. “The roundabout will close at 6 a.m. Monday, and we plan to reopen by Friday, possibly sooner if the work finishes early.”
Ybarra announces run for Washington Senate
QUINCY — State Representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, has announced his candidacy for the Washington Senate. If he’s elected, he would replace Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who announced her retirement in March.
Othello Community Museum to open April 25
OTHELLO — With a couple of new exhibits, a new heating-cooling system, rearranged displays and a thorough cleaning, the Othello Community Museum will open for the summer April 25. The goal, said Molly Popchock, museum board secretary, is to operate for a full season.