Kids need validation. Students thrive on encouragement. These emerging individuals are motivated by support.

The impending student art show at the Brownstown campus of Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC) provides the kind of exposure that leads to confidence and empowerment.

"Exposure is really what it's all about," said Randy Hess, a visual arts teacher at the Brownstown campus of LCCTC for 14 years and the organizer of the show. "Exposure is everything to these kids. It's really about encouragement for our students. It also showcases our school a little bit too and what we do."

The Brownstown campus of LCCTC will present this year's edition of its annual student art show from Thursday, April 23, to Saturday, April 25, at the 15,000-square-foot Lancaster Art Vault, 100 N. Queen St., Lancaster. The visual art students' work will be on display during Lancaster Art Vault's hours of operation, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 23 to 25.

In addition, the student art show will host a reception from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24, at Lancaster Art Vault. The reception will afford visitors an opportunity to meet and engage the student artists, and light refreshments will be served by members of the Brownstown campus of LCCTC's culinary arts programs.

The student art show is free to attend.

"It's an opportunity to peruse the art, and some of the artwork will be for sale," said Hess. "The reception is phenomenal. Everyone's there - a majority of the student artists, teachers, administrators, family and friends. A number of the resident artists will be there because they love supporting the young artists. People will meet the students and see the talent they possess. It'll be a good time."

On display at the Brownstown campus of LCCTC's art show will be several hundred examples of the students' work in two-dimensional mediums like photographs, paintings, drawings and screen printing and in three-dimensional mediums like metal workings, papier mache and digital creations. The work will be presented as exhibits in spacious hallways and on oversized television monitors.

"The name, visual arts, gives it away," said Hess, a resident of New Holland. "It covers a multitude of disciplines in the industry of art. It's a visual medium for sure."

"Art is a reflection of our society and what's going on in our society at the time," added Hess. "It's a medium to communicate what's on your mind. Art is a great way to reflect what's on your heart and relay it in a different way."

The artwork on display will represent more than 100 Brownstown campus juniors and seniors interested in the visual arts of interactive medium and web design, photography and digital imaging, commercial art, and digital design and print media. The students come from all 16 public school districts in Lancaster County.

"These students are hoping to get a job or go on to secondary education," said Hess. "You'll be blown away by their talent. People will say, 'Wow. This is high school?' And they'll say it time and time again. Kids don't always find success at their academic schools, and they come into class at LCCTC and it's about what they want to do. They blossom here. These kids are a little different. They want to focus on art, and they can do that here."

"I can't tell you how many times parents have come up to me and said, 'Wow. My kid's never been on the honor roll before. What's going on?'" Hess continued. "(The students) meet people with similar interests, and it's just a whole new world to them."

After conducting the event at a different venue for a few years, the student art show moved to Lancaster Art Vault in 2025.

"The owner, Victoria (Abadir), was all about it," said Hess. "It's really great how she helped us out."

Located at 231 Snyder Road, Ephrata, Brownstown is one of four campuses operated by LCCTC. The Brownstown campus offers nearly 60 full-day and half-day programs in areas like construction, welding, medical and dental professions, agriscience and transportation.

"In every class at LCCTC, we're teaching students to be successful in industry," said Hess. "The youths of today are the futures of tomorrow, and anytime we can encourage them the better. This is how we do it on the art side."

For additional information, go to https://lancasterctc.edu.