STEM Academy senior earns YoungArts award

Deven Ayambem from Downingtown STEM Academy has been recognized for his caliber of artistic achievement.

DOWNINGTOWN >> Deven Ayambem from Downingtown STEM Academy has been recognized for his caliber of artistic achievement and joins 686 of the nation’s most accomplished artists in the visual, literary and performing arts.

Ayambem was selected by an esteemed disciplinespecific panel of artists through a rigorous blind adjudication process. This year’s award winners represent the top 9.5 percent of applications across ten artistic disciplines. Ayambem has been named a YoungArts finalist in Hip Hop.

YoungArts award winners gain access to one of the most prestigious programs for emerging artists in the United States in which they will have opportunities for creative and professional development throughout their entire careers. A complete list of the 2020 winners is available online at youngarts.org/winners.

“Every year I am reminded that extraordinary artistry is ageless and the 2020 YoungArts award winners—all teenage artists— have done it again. This group of emerging talent represents the inspiring potential of the next generation of artists. We look forward to welcoming them to the YoungArts community of leading artists and are thrilled to support their work from this early stage and throughout their careers,” stated Board Chair Sarah Arison.

As a Finalist, Ayambem will have the opportunity to participate in National YoungArts Week, the organization’s signature program providing artists with an intensive, weeklong and all-inclusive program featuring master classes, workshops and mentorship from leading artists in their fields. He will also be eligible to be nominated to become a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, one of the highest honors given to high school seniors bestowed by the President of the United States. As the sole nominating agency, every year, YoungArts nominates 60 artists to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars. The Commission then selects 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

In addition, Ayambem is eligible for a cash prize of up to $10,000 and the opportunity to participate in the organization’s regional programs: YoungArts Miami, YoungArts Los Angeles and YoungArts New York, each modeled after National YoungArts Week.

National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison. YoungArts identifies the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary and performing arts, and provides them with creative and professional development opportunities throughout their careers.

Deven Ayambem