Bethpage High School senior Kayla Cusumano has been named a 2026-27 Long Island Scholar-Artist by the Long Island Arts Alliance.
Presented by the Long Island Arts Alliance in partnership with Newsday, the Scholar-Artist Awards recognize high school seniors who demonstrate excellence in both the arts and academics. Students are nominated in one of five disciplines: visual arts, music, theater, dance or media arts. Each year, 20 students are selected as Scholar-Artists, while 20 additional students receive Merit Awards. All honorees are featured in Newsday and recognized at a year-end celebration.
Kayla was recognized for visual arts, a passion she has pursued throughout her life. She says she began taking her work more seriously in middle school, when increasingly challenging projects helped her realize that art could become more than a hobby.
“I love using art to communicate ideas and emotions that can be difficult to express through words,” Kayla said.
Her primary focus is two-dimensional visual art, particularly drawing and painting, although she enjoys experimenting with different materials and styles. Much of her inspiration comes from her own experiences and emotions.
In her AP 2D Art portfolio, Kayla explores “themes of childhood wonder and how our imagination changes as we grow up.” The work draws on her own experience of growing up with a vivid imagination and a love of fantasy.
Kayla’s creativity extends beyond the visual arts. She is also an accomplished musician who plays alto saxophone, and she sees a strong connection between her two artistic pursuits.
“My interests in visual art and music greatly influence each other because they both require my own artistic expression, interpretation and willingness to work hard to improve my skills,” she said. “Playing the saxophone has taught me to always pay attention to my tone, rhythm and emotion, while visual art has taught me to think about composition and attention to detail.”
Throughout her time at Bethpage High School, Kayla has been particularly influenced by art teacher Courtney Young, whom she credits with playing an important role in her development as an artist.
“She has given me an abundance of helpful advice and taught me many new techniques and artistic concepts, as well as how to form creative ideas to base my art on,” Kayla said.
After graduation, Kayla plans to pursue a degree in industrial design, where she hopes to combine her artistic skills with practical problem-solving.
“I want to channel my artistry into designing practical devices and products in the real world,” she said.
She also plans to continue drawing and painting traditional artwork as a personal hobby.
For Kayla, being named a Long Island Scholar-Artist is a recognition of years of creativity, persistence and hard work.
“This recognition has provided me with a way to share more of my creativity and self-expression with others,” she said. “I sincerely hope that in the future, many more students from Bethpage will get this same opportunity to be highlighted for their talents.”
Congratulations, Kayla, on this well-deserved recognition!
