Two Fine Arts Students Earn Prestigious YoungArts National Awards
The Broward Campus Fine Arts Department is celebrating a significant achievement as two students secured the highly esteemed status of YoungArts 2026 National Award Winners. This selection places them among the most accomplished young artists in the country, validating years of dedication and masterful execution of their craft.
YoungArts is the most prestigious national competition in the fine arts, selecting only about 700 winners from a pool of over 13,000 applicants annually. "If we give young people the validation to pursue artistic careers, then the arts in the United States will continue to thrive,” said YoungArts President & CEO Clive Chang. “The YoungArts Awards not only affirm their interests and talents, but give them the support networks and resources that allow them to envision a long-term path and sustain it. We are thrilled to recognize the extraordinary creativity, imagination, and talent of this year’s award winners and to champion them for the rest of their lifetimes.”
The recognized student artists:
- Jack Ryan (AHS ‘25) earned the distinction of YoungArts 2026 Theater/Musical Winner with Distinction. This honor makes him eligible for nomination as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, one of the nation’s top honors for high school students.
- Lina Song (AHS ‘26) was named a YoungArts 2026 National Award Winner in Visual Arts.
As YoungArts winners, both Jack and Lina gained access to a lifelong community of peers and mentors. They received cash prizes, workshops, and career support, positioning them for future success in the performing and visual arts. Their recognition confirms the quality of the fine arts program at American Heritage Schools.
Established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison, YoungArts, the national foundation for the advancement of artists, identifies exceptional young artists, amplifies their potential, and invests in their lifelong creative freedom. YoungArts provides space, funding, mentorship, professional development, and community throughout artists’ careers. Entrance into this prestigious organization starts with a highly competitive application for talented artists ages 15–18, or grades 10–12, in the United States that is judged by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through a rigorous adjudication process. Learn more at youngarts.org.