Neva Bryan - a graduate of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Neva recently completed her Master in Professional Writing from Chatham University. She is an award-winning poet, having received over a dozen prizes, including the James Still Award for poetry,  and her novel Peter’s Monsters has just been released.

Stephanie Cassell - A resident of Norton and former student in Rita Quillen’s creative writing course at MECC, Stephanie is a repeat winner in the EXPLRATIONS competition.  She has a bachelors degree in Writing for Media from Birmingham-Southern College.

Crystal Cole - Born in South Dakota, Crystal moved to Big Stone Gap in 2008.  Her Bachelor’s degree is in Management, but she has studied drawing and painting at MECC.

Cody Collins - After four years of art in high school, Cody is continuing his study here at MECC and plans to transfer to McPherson State University in McPherson, Kansas the major in Car Restoration.

Tanya Hale - Tanya is a multiple prize winner from previous EXPLORATIONS competitions and also a frequent contest winner and exhibitor in other local contests and venues.  Tanya is from Fort Blackmore, Virginia.

Travis Lane - Travis is a Big  Stone Gap native planning a career in photography.

Loretta Lester - A former Liberal Arts major at MECC who plans to return to school this summer, Loretta is a past winner in drawing, art, and writing, and now in photography. Her dream is to pursue a four-year degree in art or writing, preferably both.

Alexander Long -

Roy Mickles - A resident of Wise, Virginia, Roy loves drawing, painting, writing short stories and anything to do with art in general.

Sarah Smith - Sarah is now a senior at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, VA majoring in Photography & Digital imaging and also in business. She will graduate in May with two degrees: A BA in Photography and Digital Imaging and a BS in Business Marketing. She took photography classes here at MECC. She has been selected in the past for inclusion in a juried photography show at Virginia Intermont, at the Appalachian Photography Salon in Kingsport, TN, where one of her photos received an honorable mention, and the 2008 Virginia Highlands Festival Juried Photography Show where one of her photos received the First Place, Color award in the Amateur Division.

Kayla Strong -

Caitlyn Strouth - Caitlyn is a General Studies major at MECC who plans to transfer to the Savannah College of Art and Design.  She resides in Nicklesville, Virginia.

Neil Walker - Neil is a resident of Big Stone Gap.

Claude Kelly - Photography Judge
An award-winning photographer, photography judge, and teacher for over 30 years, Claude Kelly has a large exhibit currently on display at the Renaissance Center in downtown Kingsport.  He received the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Pinnacle Award in 2005 in the Cultural History Category for a book he photo-illustrated entitled Lydia’s Gift.    His work has received awards from the Virginia Highlands Festival, the Arts Council of Greater Kingsport, and the Southeastern Council of Camera Clubs.

Gretchen McCroskey - Poetry Judge
Gretchen McCroskey is Associate Professor of English at Northeast State Technical Community College. Her poetry has appeared in Now and Then, Sow’s Ear, Appalachian Heritage, Wind, Number One, and Artemis. Her new book of poems is just out from Finishing Line Press titled Finding My Way Home.

Mary Nees - Painting & Drawing Judge
Mary Nees was trained at Cornell University, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Art, before moving to E. Tennessee. She earned her MFA in '07 as a printmaker. Her work is referenced from landscape, and abstract symbolism, and is represented in collections nationally. She has taught internationally at the Luxun Academy of Fine Art in Shenyang, China. Currently she teaches Color Theory at ETSU. Her website can be viewed at www.marynees.com.