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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​

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First Place

Bella McCabe

Immaculate High School, Danbury

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First Runner Up

Shriya Thaps

Branford High School

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Second Runner Up

Jaclyn Gelson

Immaculate High School, Danbury

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Youth Advocate Award

Riley Gontarz

Coginchaug Regional High School, Durham

Living Donation Art Award

Bella Pendergrass

Norwich Free High School

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CT Coalition for Organ & Tissue Donation

dba Donate Life Connecticut

PO Box 23, Madison, CT 06443

203-626-4237

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