Lara Hinze, a 2021 graduate of Whitehall High School, has had her artwork accepted into ArtPrize, an international art competition and cultural festival held each year in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is Hinze’s first time submitting to the event. Her piece was selected by the Gerald R. Ford Museum, a venue that draws many visitors during the festival.
Hinze, 22, is expected to graduate from Grand Valley State University in December 2025 with a major in Art Education. She is currently working as a teacher intern in a high school art classroom and plans to become a public high school art teacher. Hinze says her family, including her grandmother, an oil painter, and her parents, both artists, encouraged her interest in art. She credits family art nights and lessons from her grandmother for helping her develop her skills.
Hinze remembers being a quiet student at Whitehall Middle School, where art class was a supportive environment. She names her middle school art teacher, Amy Spicer, as an important influence. Spicer describes Hinze as a dedicated student who showed strong skills early on…