- February 22, 2025
Nicole Collyer, Da-Shari Lanier, Emmy Troiano, Madi Buckels and Jamie Alexander (Photo by Emily Blackwood).
By Madi Buckels
By Jamie Alexander
By Nicole Collyer
By Emmy Troiano
By Da-Shari Lanier
Lisa Botkin considers herself very lucky to have watched Emmy Troiano, Da-Shari Lanier, Madi Buckels, Jamie Alexander and Nicole Collyer develop into the artists they are today.
For the past four years, Botkin has taught and coached these girls — among dozens of others — in the different advanced placement art classes. The Seabreeze High School teacher said she's lucky the students keep going with her.
"They're trained and very dedicated," she said. "They take lots of classes. It's wonderful to watch them flourish and grow."
Some of the girls say they want to continue their art careers into graphic design and even owning tattoo shops. Botkin said she's not surprised, her students have gone on to express art in everything from jewelry making to industrial design.
The five students were recently chosen to be in the 14th-annual Advanced Placement Studio Art Exhibit, held Feb. 5 to Mar. 4 at Art Haus in Port Orange. The exhibit is a collective display from 11th- and 12th-graders from nine Volusia County High Schools. Close to 90 pieces of original 2D and 3D artwork will be displayed.
"They're very polite, hard working, very conscientious," Botkin said. "They'll do whatever it takes to be successful."
