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Pickerington Local Schools’ Senior Earns $60,000 Art Scholarship to Prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design

Amanda Machin-Cortes, a senior at Pickerington High School North (PHSN), has achieved a life-changing milestone—a $60,000 scholarship to the prestigious Ringling College of Art + Design, in Sarasota, Florida. This incredible achievement honors the senior’s extraordinary talent in photography, a passion nurtured by her family’s encouragement, her perseverance through challenges, and her unwavering dedication to her craft.

Picture of Amanda the studentMachin-Cortes’ journey into photography began during her freshman year at PHSN when she and her parents were going over high school electives, unknowingly setting her on the path to her future career. “Starting high school, I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do in life,” Machin-Cortes’ said. “My parents picked photography as one of my electives because they’d always seen me taking pictures of everything growing up. That one decision changed my life.”

Her love for photography deepened in her Foundations in Photography class with Ms. Siewny. One of her first projects required her to choose a subject to photograph. “I told my mom about the assignment and asked her to be my model,” The senior recalled. “During that photoshoot, something clicked—I was in my zone, and I realized this was my passion.” Machin-Cortes’ credits her mother, a lifelong photography enthusiast who collects old cameras and documents family moments, for being her first inspiration.

“My mom always took photos of every moment, and she loves collecting vintage cameras like the ones she used when she was younger,” Machin-Cortes’ said. “She’s a big part of why I fell in love with photography.”

Machin-Cortes’ artistic journey has been shaped by both triumphs and hardships. At age 12, her family moved to Ohio when her stepfather took a job opportunity, partly to care for her grandparents. “We moved here for my step dad's job and to help take care of my grandparents,” she shared. “After six years of being in their care, we unfortunately lost my grandfather to cancer at the beginning of this year, and my grandmother three months later. Now that they’re gone, we have no family or friends in Ohio.”

Adjusting to life in a new state during middle school and then navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 lockdown made things even harder. “When we moved to Pickerington, I started seventh grade at Lakeview Junior High in 2019, but after winter break, COVID hit, and we went on lockdown in early 2020. Things went downhill for me. I struggled online and felt like the new kid all over again. By the time freshman year started, even though school was back in person, I still felt like I didn’t belong.”

Machin-Cortes’ shared that these years were difficult, and she fell into a depressive state before and during the start of high school. “I only had one friend who stuck by my side, and I was lucky to have met them during the AIR test in eighth grade. That friend and I still communicate to this day,” she said.

Her senior year has been a breakthrough. “I’ve been the quiet, new kid all these years until now. This year, I’ve opened up more to my classmates, and they’ve opened up to me,” she shared. “I love the bonds I’ve created with these students. They’ve made my high school dreams a reality. Little do they know how much their friendship has meant to me.”

Machin-Cortes’ also credits her visual arts teacher, Mr. Clay Kessler, for recognizing her potential. She shares that he has been a key mentor throughout her artistic development, encouraging her to enter competitions like the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition. 

“Amanda is an incredibly dedicated student,” Kessler said. “She’s taken every opportunity to grow as an artist and photographer.

“Sophomore year, I was a regional winner, and junior year, I strived for state recognition and achieved it,” she said. “Now that it’s my senior year, I’m excited to enter one last time and aim to be a state winner again.”

“Seeing her work recognized by a school as prestigious as Ringling College is truly rewarding,” Kessler added. According to the school’s website, it is the only institution in Florida dedicated exclusively to teaching art and design.

This year’s scholarship to Ringling College of Art + Design was the culmination of her hard work and determination. During a campus visit, Machin-Cortes’ portfolio impressed the admissions staff and photography professors, leading to her scholarship offer just a week later.

“I am very excited for this opportunity! Never in a million years did I think I would get a scholarship to such an amazing school,” she said. “Four years ago, I didn’t know where life was taking me, but photography gave me purpose. I’m grateful that my parents chose Ohio and picked my electives—they changed my life.”

Machin-Cortes’ ultimate dream is to open her own photography studio and use her talent to capture her visions while helping others preserve their moments and ideas. “My passion is street photography, and I want to document life globally from the perspective of locals, not just tourists. I also hope to travel and discover other cultures through photography,” she said.

Reflecting on her journey, Machin-Cortes’ shared, “I’m grateful for everyone who has supported me—my parents, my friends, and Mr. Kessler. Their belief in me made this possible. This scholarship is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to share my work with the world.”

Machin-Cortes’ story is an inspiration to all who dream big and persevere through challenges. Congratulations, Amanda Machin-Cortes, on this incredible achievement! We can’t wait to see the amazing things you accomplish in the years to come.