Patrick Kraus Freshman Drawing Competition 2024

Each year, Northampton Community College (NCC) hosts a drawing competition that showcases the artistic talent at NCC while paying tribute to the memory of a promising young artist. Supported by the Patrick J. Kraus Endowment Fund, established by the late John “Duke” Kraus and his wife, Katherine, the competition honors their son, Patrick Kraus, a talented artist and student who attended NCC during the 1985-86 academic year. This competition stands as a tribute to the legacy of Patrick and the support of his family for the arts. 

Open exclusively to freshman art students at NCC, the Patrick Kraus Drawing Competition invited participants to submit original drawings to a panel of NCC art program faculty. Thanks to the contributions made through the Patrick J. Kraus Endowment Fund, the competition has awarded over $100,000 in financial scholarships to deserving students over the past 25 years. These scholarships recognize the talent and hard work of the winners and support their continued artistic endeavors at NCC. 

The highlight of the Patrick Kraus Drawing Competition is the anticipated reception and award ceremony, held in the Communications Hall Gallery on Bethlehem campus. On March 28, the winning drawings were unveiled to the public, and the Director of the Art Program at NCC, Thomas Shillea, had the honor of announcing the winners. As a bonus to the first and second place winners, their drawings become part of the permanent collection at NCC, displayed on either the Bethlehem or Pocono campus.  

Through the generous support of the Kraus family and the dedication of the NCC art program faculty, this competition continues to celebrate the talent and creativity of young artists, leaving a lasting mark on the landscape of NCC.  

Patrick Kraus Drawing Competition 2024 Winners 

1st Place & recipient of a $1,100 scholarship: From Above by Sophia Santamaria  

2nd Place & recipient of a $850 scholarship: Childish Memories by Ventura Trinity Ortiz  

3rd Place & recipient of a $650 scholarship: Self Portrait by Ryan Scorzafava  

4th Place & recipient of a $500 scholarship: Vincent by Jacob Andrew Ebert  

5th Place & recipient of a $400 scholarship: Reconstructed Still Life (Garlic, Radish, Pepper) by Narissa Nieves