Visual Arts Contest 2026
Donate Life Connecticut is happy to announce the 36th Annual Erica Grossman High School Visual Arts Contest Award Winners. Since 1990, tens of thousands of high school students have participated in Donate Life Connecticut’s Annual Visual Arts Contest, helping to further organ donation awareness and promote the DLC mission to more Connecticut communities.
The contest is held each year with the goal of encouraging high school students to learn the importance of Organ and Tissue Donation, giving the student a personal perspective on the importance of the message of Donate Life CT.
Students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in an Connecticut High School, including public, private, magnet, and parochial, are invited to participate.
There were countless amazing submissions this year and we are happy to announce the award winners here. Student winners from across the state attended a luncheon at the Connecticut State Capitol with family and their teachers. Students were awarded prizes by Donate Life Connecticut. They heard from Erica's Mom, Karen Grossman, who spoke about her daughter's gentle spirit, love of art and animals and who became a donor hero in 2013. They also heard from Hartford native, coach and mentor, Dennis Thomas, who is a 16 year heart recipient. Students were each given a proclamation by Jeff Currey, Chief of Staff of the Sentate Majority and living donor kidney recipient.
Congratulations to our 2026 Award Winners

First Place
Bella McCabe
Immaculate High School, Danbury

First Runner Up
Shriya Thaps
Branford High School

Second Runner Up
Jaclyn Gelson
Immaculate High School, Danbury

Youth Advocate Award
Riley Gontarz
Coginchaug Regional High School, Durham
Living Donation Art Award
Bella Pendergrass
Norwich Free High School

