A Stivers School for the Arts senior’s painting is featured on the cover of the 2019 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards calendar.

Kennedé Thomas, a Dayton native, painted “Two Cakes” for her AP art portfolio in a single class period during her junior year. The painting won a 2018 national Gold Medal in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Thomas only found out about the calendar recently when the College for Creative Studies – a Detroit art school – sent her a copy, along with an $88,000 scholarship offer.

Thomas, who has a GPA above a 4.0, has had several other scholarship offers, including $92,000 to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

She aspires to earn a master’s degree in art education, teach high school art and become a professor.

“Ever since I was in elementary school – and even before that – I really enjoyed drawing,” Thomas said. “My passion for painting started freshman year when a teacher suggested I take a painting class.”

Thomas has also earned a Gold Key in the 2019 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition – a regional award. That winning piece will be considered for a national Gold Medal award.

Thomas has been a Stivers student since the seventh grade, and was accepted to the AP program as a sophomore after an interview and portfolio submission.

“I always wanted to go to Stivers,” she said. “And I’ve just made it my second home.”