2025 Air Force Art and Photo contest winners

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The 2025 contest accepted two-dimensional art, three-dimensional art and traditional photography submissions across five age groups: adult accomplished, adult novice, youth 13-17, youth 9-12 and youth 6-8. Each category awarded first, second and third place prizes, 

Awards went to:  

Two-dimensional artwork 

Adult Accomplished 

First Place – Winter Morn, by Guy Learn, MacDill AFB, Fla.  
Second Place – Ski Goggles, by Josh Pugeau, Hill AFB, Utah  
Third Place – Settling in for Winter, by Grace Hart, Kadena AB, Japan  

Adult Novice 

First Place – To Aurora Falls, by James Elliott, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska  
Second Place – Winter by the Shore, by Katherine Dizon, Eglin AFB, Fla.  
Third Place – Persistence, by Jessica Warren, Hill AFB, Utah 

Youth 13-17 

First Place – Winter Magic, by Jessica Cooper, Spangdahlem AB, Germany  
Second Place – Silent Sky, by Isabella Sutton, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas  
Third Place – The Great Prince, by Sarah Tate, MacDill AFB, Fla. 

Youth 9-12 

First Place – Mountains of Majesty, by Lillian Campbell, Eglin AFB, Fla.  
Second Place – Alaska Light Show, by Evalina Erickson, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio   
Third Place – Ducklings Playing in the Snow, by Cayleigh McCabe, Keesler AFB, Miss. 

Youth 6-8 

First Place – Northern Lights Wolf, by Amber Dore, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.  
Second Place – Polar Bear, by Chase Kels, JBSA, Texas  
Third Place – Cold Cardinal, by Sophie Williamson, Air Force Academy, Colo. 

Three-dimensional artwork 

Adult Accomplished 

First Place – Frost Phoenix, by Isaiah Bettinger, Ramstein AB, Germany  
Second Place – Blue, by Sonia Sugey Soto, Hurlburt Field, Fla.  
Third Place – German Christmas Market, by Maj. Lorenzo E. Aranda, JBSA, Texas 

Adult Novice 

First Place – Shell Island Locale, by Jeorja Turner, JBSA, Texas  
Second Place – My Winter Dream, by Emmalou Middleton, Hill AFB, Utah  
Third Place – Embers in the Pines, by Mackenzie Kowalski, Moody AFB, Ga. 

Youth 13-17 

First Place – Swan Lake, by Priscilla Dungey, Robins AFB, Ga.  
Second Place – Snow Leopard Becomes a Snowbird, by Haley Perez, JBSA, Texas  
Third Place – A Long Winters Nap, by Sarah Tate, MacDill AFB, Fla. 

Youth 9-12 

First Place – Winter Feast, by Iris Lin-Denning, Camp Humphreys, Korea  
Second Place – Hittin’ the Slopes in Style, by Jakov Del Toro, FE Warren AFB, Wyo.  
Third Place – Winter Play Date, by Isabella Wesbur, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 

Youth 6-8 

First Place – Winter Fun, by Harmony Tischner, RAF Lakenheath, England  
Second Place – Snowman on Snowflake, by Blake Muth, Aviano AB, Italy  
Third Place – Blue Sparkle Snowflake Ornament, by Jessie Galyen, Arnold AFB, Tenn. 

Photography 

Adult Accomplished 

First Place – Curves Ahead, by Andrew Kious, JBER, Alaska  
Second Place – Through Winter’s Veil, by Abigail Parch, Columbus AFB, Miss.  
Third Place – Catching Sunsets, by Amanda Becerra, Eglin AFB, Fla. 

Adult Novice 

First Place – Snowy Haven, by Fionna Yuan, JBSA, Texas  
Second Place – Branching into Winter’s Grasp, by Alexander W. Nelson, Pentagon, Va. 
Third Place – Mountain Snowcapped, by Kevin Zuva, RAF Mildenhall, England 

Youth 13-17 

First Place – Magnificent Metro, by Asher Hurt, Beale AFB, Calif.  
Second Place – Winter Camouflage, by Finnegan Trial-Barton, JBSA, Texas  
Third Place – Widow Grass Rainbow, by Zak Taylor, Fairchild AFB, Wash. 

Youth 9-12 

First Place – Ski Lift View, by Macey Knowles, Fairchild AFB, Wash.  
Second Place – Snowy Road, by Atlys Wang, Minot AFB, N.D.  
Third Place - Winter Valley, by Lydia Brown, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho 

Youth 6-8 

First Place – Leaves Near a Frosty Field, by Amelia Chapman, Aviano AB, Italy  
Second Place – What a View in December!, by Savannah Adams, JBSA, Texas  
Third Place – Winter Stix, by Kenzie McCloney, Hill AFB, Utah