How many awards did the students at Cache Public Schools accumulate between 1981 and 1999 in interschool competitions at the area, state, and national levels? The quick answer is, "Around 700." But, it is an injustice merely to list the count. The hours those students spent developing and honing their skills while producing the best work their potential could offer need to be remembered as something productive for their long-term well being and the pride it instilled in so many.
Those Cache Art and Photography students had a lot of pride and determination to be the kind of representatives that, when they walked into a show toting their pieces for judging, other schools' students would have wide eyes open and whisper to one another, "Wow! What school is THAT?!" Those former Cache Bulldogs built a tradition of excellence that transcended dates. For example, they received an award in 47 consecutive shows or head-to-head, on-sight competitions over a nine-year span.
Sometimes, awards came in bunches. My talented students pulled in 37 awards at a single show (December 15, 1988). No single school year was more telling than 1987-1988, when they racked up 123 awards alone. It was obvious that, when they won awards, it only reinforced in their minds that the things I was teaching them and all the hard work they were putting in was, indeed, worth the effort in the end.
Once students saw what their special vision and hard work could achieve, they began to pave a road of fine art. Younger students 'idolized' the older trend setters. That younger sect then joined classes determined to become the next influential artists or photographers themselves. They would become recognized award winners in their own time knowing there were future students waiting to follow in their steps. It was not unlike Oscar Robertson being followed by Michael Jordon who would be followed by Lebron James...except it was award winning ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS.
This list below isn't complete, as hard as that may seem to believe. Only the documented awards I, their teacher, could find are listed. I didn't even sit down to try to add all this up until 2017, long after I had retired. When you read these totals, if you haven't yet looked at some of the artwork I've put on this website of my former students' artwork and photography, please take a few minutes to browse that section. You will quickly see why the pupils raked in so many awards.
For the sake of all those pupils who worked so hard to receive their honors, I've taken the time--as best I could with the data I have available (I know I missed some)--to list an overview followed by detailed, year-by-year accomplishments. I doff my hat to you all with thanks for the many moments of joy we shared!
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-(1) Trip to Canada as "Art Ambassadors" with works displayed at the 'A.N.O.S.A. Gallery' in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
-Over $25,850 accumulated in scholarships
-(5) Students' artworks on postcards, Where Edmonton Today, and Vue Weekly periodicals in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
-(1) Soyla Santos had her "Hot Stuff!" color pencil drawing printed as a poster by A.N.O.S.A.
-(1) Publication in School Arts magazine: "In Search of King Tot"
-(1) Statewide airing, on P.B.S., of Oklahoma Magazine doing a spot regarding the Cache Art and Photography Program
-(1) Statewide display of Cache works at Oklahoma City's Hodge Education Building (State Superintendent's Office)
-(1) Justin Boatsman was accepted into the 'Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, 1994' (Drawing). Only 20 were chosen.
-(1) Clay Johnson was accepted into the 'Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, 1994' (Photography). Only 20 were chosen.
-(3) Mandy Kramer accepted into the 'Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, 1994, 1995, 1996' (Photography). Only 18 were chosen.
-(1) Adrienne Lorentino was accepted into the 'Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute' (Drawing). Only 20 were chosen.
-(2) Shane Smith and Soyla Santos were two of the six student participants in the 10 day-long 'Southwest Art Experience'
-(3) Students' works displayed at the Oklahoma Art Center on the State Fairgrounds
-(4) Finalist in the 'Visions of the Universe Student Art Contest' sponsored by the Kirkpatrick Planetarium, Oklahoma City
-(5) Students' works accepted into the "Visions of the Universe" exhibit at the Omniplex Science Museum in Oklahoma City
-(2) 'Alternate Scholarships' given by 'Young Talent in Oklahoma, 1994'
-(1) 'Merit Award Winner' in the 'Young Talent in Oklahoma competition'
-(6) Pieces accepted into the 'Young Talent In Oklahoma competition'
-(1) 'Merit Award' (only 10 given in 91 accepted works) 'High School Print/Drawing Competition' at O.C.U.'s Hulsey Gallery
-(5) Works accepted in the 'High School Print/Drawing Competition' (only 91 of the 472 juried works were accepted)
-(1) 'State of Oklahoma Commendation' from Speaker Lloyd Benson and the Oklahoma House of Representatives to Shane Smith
-(4) 'Senior Portfolio Award' winners
-(1) First-place finish at the state level of the 'American Creative Patriotic Arts Program' (JoAnne Agers)
-(1) 3rd in the state judging of the 'Young American Creative Patriotics Arts Program' (Mandy Kramer)
-(1) Fifth-place finish at the state level of the 'American Creative Patriotic Arts Program'
-(4) 'Senior Portfolio Award' winners
-(1) Work accepted into the 'National Native American Indian High School Exhibition'
-(39) 'Best of Show'
-(1) 'Judge's Commendation' (Top award at one, particular contest, equivalent to a 'Best of Show' rating)
-(9) 'Judges' Choice (Merit) Awards'
-(51) Cash awards totaling $3,853
-(169) 'First Place'
-(149) 'Second Place'
-(103) 'Third Place'
-(35) 'Fourth Place'
-(28) 'Fifth Place'
-(134) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 5 awards in 1981-1982, Darrell Schultz's first year as their teacher"...
-(1) 'Second Place'
-(1) 'Fourth Place'
-(3) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 16 awards in 1982-1983, including their first cash award"...
-(1) $100 cash award
-(6) 'First Place'
-(6) 'Second Place'
-(2) 'Third Place'
-(1) 'Fifth Place'
"The students received 8 awards in 1983-1984"...
-(1) $100 cash award
-(4) 'First Place'
-(1) 'Third Place'
-(1) 'Fourth Place'
-(1) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 13 awards in 1984-1985, among them the first 'Best of Show' plaudits (34 more would follow in time)"...
-(1) $50 cash award
-(1) 'Best of Show'
-(6) 'First Place'
-(1) 'Second Place'
-(1) 'Third Place'
-(1) 'Fourth Place'
-(2) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 33 awards in 1985-1986, including a national award and a special commendation from a judge"...
-(1) Work accepted into the 'National Native American Indian High School Exhibition'
-(1) 'Judge's Commendation' (Top award at contest)
-(3) $230 in cash awards (2 at $100 each and $30 for a Judge's Merit Award)
-(1) 'Best of Show'
-(12) 'First Place'
-(3) 'Second Place'
-(3) 'Third Place'
-(9) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 113 awards in 1986-1987, having three works selected in their first application to Y.T.I.O."..
-(1) 'Merit award winner' in the 'Young Talent in Oklahoma competition'
-(3) Pieces were accepted into the 'Young Talent In Oklahoma competition'
-(2) $75 in cash awards (1 for $50 and 1 another $25)
-(16) 'Best of Show'
-(10) 'First Place'
-(19) 'Second Place'
-(14) 'Third Place'
-(10) 'Fourth Place'
-(12) 'Fifth Place'
-(26) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 123 awards in 1987-1988, including our only state winner in the patriotic arts competition"...
-(1) State winner of the "National Young American Creative Patriotic Arts Program"
-(2) $250 in cash prizes (one was $100 and the other check was for $150)
-(1) 'Senior Portfolio Award' winner
-(3) 'Best of Show'
-(24) 'First Place'
-(20) 'Second Place'
-(14) 'Third Place'
-(13) 'Fourth Place'
-(9) 'Fifth Place'
-(37) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 81 awards in 1988-1989, with works now being shown all over Oklahoma"...
-(3) Students' works were displayed at the Oklahoma Art Center on the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City
-(1) Statewide display of Cache works in Oklahoma City's Hodge Education Building (State Superintendent's Office)
-(4) Students' works were accepted to the "Visions of the Universe" exhibit at the Omniplex Science Museum
-(1) Fifth-place finish at the state level of the "American Creative Patriotic Arts Program"
-(1) $1,500 scholarship
-(8) $618 in cash prizes (Six, $100 cash prizes to six, different students; two others won $9 at "Gallery on the Green")
-(1) 'Senior Portfolio Award' winner
-(5) 'Best of Show'
-(23) 'First Place'
-(17) 'Second Place'
-(10) 'Third Place'
-(1) 'Fifth Place'
-(8) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 39 awards in 1989-1990, and had statewide coverage on Oklahoma Magazine/Public Television"...
-(1) Statewide airing, on P.B.S.'s Oklahoma Magazine, a spotlight on the Cache Art and Photography Program
-(8) $450 total in cash prizes (Three $100 awards, two $50, one $25, one $15, and one at $10)
-(1) 'Senior Portfolio Award' winner
-(1) 'Best of Show'
-(5) 'Judges' Choice (Merit) Awards'
-(8) 'First Place'
-(5) 'Second Place'
-(5) 'Third Place'
-(1) 'Fourth Place'
-(4) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 33 awards in 1990-1991"...
-(4) $275 total in cash prizes (Two $100, one $50 and one $25 cash awards, going to four, different students)
-(1) 'Best of Show'
-(1) 'Judges's Merit Award'
-(7) 'First Place'
-(4) 'Second Place'
-(4) 'Third Place'
-(12) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 35 awards in 1991-1992, including the 'Senior Portfolio Award' for the fourth time in five years"...
-(1) 'Senior Portfolio Award'
-(3) $300 total in cash prizes (Three, $100 awards going to three, different students)
-(7) 'First Place'
-(6) 'Second Place'
-(10) 'Third Place'
-(1) 'Fourth Place'
-(7) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 31 awards in 1992-1993"...
-(1) Finalist in the 'Visions of the Universe Student Art Contest' sponsored by the Kirkpatrick Planetarium, Oklahoma City
-(3) $235 total in cash prizes (Two worth $100, the other of $35 gathered by three, different students)
-(1) 'Best of Show'
-(3) 'Judges's Merit Award'
-(6) 'First Place'
-(7) 'Second Place'
-(7) 'Third Place'
-(2) 'Fourth Place'
-(1) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 61 awards in 1993-1994"...
-$14,000 in scholarships to senior Randall Ferguson ($4,000 of it as a 'Portfolio Winner')
-$10,000 scholarship to senior Roger Brown
-(2) 'Alternate Scholarships' given by 'Young Talent in Oklahoma, 1994'
-(2) Students' artworks accepted into the juried 'Young Talent in Oklahoma, 1994' (Roger Brown and Randall Ferguson)
-(1) Justin Boatsman was accepted into the 'Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute' (Drawing). Only 20 were chosen.
-(1) Clay Johnson was accepted into the 'Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute' (Photography). Only 20 were chosen.
-(1) 'Merit Award' (only 10 given in 91 accepted works) 'High School Print/Drawing Competition' at O.C.U.'s Hulsey Gallery
-(5) Works accepted into the 'High School Print/Drawing Competition' (only 91 of the 472 juried works were accepted)
-(4) Finalist pieces in the 'Visions of the Universe Student Art Contest' sponsored by the Kirkpatrick Planetarium, Oklahoma City
-(5) $420 in total cash prizes (Two $100, two $50, and one $20 cash awards with only one studnet winning twice)
-(1) 'Best of Show'
-(1) 'Judges's Choice Award'
-(13) 'First Place'
-(13) 'Second Place'
-(8) 'Third Place'
-(1) 'Fourth Place'
-(1) 'Fifth Place'
-(1) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 52 awards in 1994-1995"...
-(1) Mandy Kramer accepted into the 'Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute' (Photography). Only 18 were chosen.
-(2) $200 in total cash prizes (Two $100 prizes)
-(2) 'Best of Show'
-(15) 'First Place'
-(13) 'Second Place'
-(7) 'Third Place'
-(1) 'Fourth Place'
-(2) 'Fifth Place'
-(9) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 36 awards in 1995-1996"...
-(1) Trip to Canada as 'Art Ambassadors' as well as a showing at the A.N.O.S.A. Gallery in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
-(5) Students' artworks on postcards, Where Edmonton Today, and Vue Weekly periodicals in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
-(1) Soyla Santos had her "Hot Stuff!" color pencil drawing printed as a poster by A.N.O.S.A.
-(1) Mandy Kramer AGAIN accepted into the 'Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute' (Photography). Only 18 were chosen.
-(2) $200 in cash prizes (Two, $100 awards to two, different students)
-(3) 'Best of Show'
-(9) 'First Place'
-(7) 'Second Place'
-(4) 'Third Place'
-(1) 'Fourth Place'
-(2) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 51 awards in 1996-1997"...
-(1) Mandy Kramer accepted a THIRD time into the 'Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute' (Photography). Only 18 were chosen.
-(1) Student artwork accepted into the '37th Annual Young Talent in Oklahoma exhibition' (Shane Smith)
-(1) 3rd in the state in the 'Young American Creative Patriotics Arts Program' (Mandy Kramer)
-(1) $800 scholarship (Mandy Kramer)
-(2) $250 in total cash prizes (Two prizes, one for $100 and the other for $150)
-(1) 44 works by 32, different art/photo students were exhibited at the Carnegie Library Town Hall in Lawton, Oklahoma
-(1) 'Best of Show'
-(10) 'First Place'
-(16) 'Second Place'
-(6) 'Third Place'
-(2) 'Fourth Place'
-(2) 'Fifth Place'
-(7) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received 27 awards in 1997-1998"...
-(1) Adrienne Lorentino was accepted into the 'Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute' (Drawing). Only 20 were chosen.
-(2) Students Shane Smith and Soyla Santos were two of six student participants in the '10 day-long Southwest Art Experience'
-'State of Oklahoma Commendation' from Speaker Lloyd Benson and the Oklahoma House of Representatives to Shane Smith
-(2) $200 in total cash prizes (Two prizes of $100, each to two, different pupils)
-(5) 'First Place'
-(7) 'Second Place'
-(2) 'Third Place'
-(7) 'Honorable Mention'
"The students received an unknown number of awards in 1998-1999" (I only have the records for two of the shows that year). Among them, though, was at least one, cash award for the fifteenth, consecutive school year"...
-(3) $350 in total cash prizes ($100 for having the area's VFW 'Young American Creative Patriotic Arts' Contest's 'Best In Show' winner for high school; $100 for winning the younger division and $150 for finishing third at the state level)
-(4) 'Best of Show'
-(4) 'First Place'
-(4) 'Second Place'
-(5) 'Third Place'
"So, what about 1999-2000?"
Darrell Schultz resigned from his post over the 'Visual Arts and Photography Program' for Cache Public Schools after the 1998-1999 school year. He had been hired to be an Associate Professor at Lake City Community College (now 'Florida Gateway College'), so his eighteen year-long stint at Cache came to an end.
"Mr. Schultz, why did your students win so many awards?"
"First of all, it sure helped that a plethora of talented students came through the classroom doors year-after-year! Even more important than their skills, though, I think it was a 'mindset' that made the student work exceptional. My students looked at the same things everyone else was seeing but my pupils perceived those things in a different way. In fact, the Public Broadcasting Station's Oklahoma Magazine ran a spot on our program that summarized the credo of my students...'In Art, we DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!'"