Pen Women uplift new cohort of artists

By Dana Kampa
| 7:30 a.m. April 14, 2025

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Drawing upon their own unique senses of identity, the scholarship winners of this year's "Launching Leaders in the Arts" awards delighted attendees with snippets of their works.

Writers read their works aloud, while artists held their canvases high to point out the standout elements. What truly stunned the audience this year was the music category. Organizers saved the first-place winning piece by Tristan Tran for a grand finale, "Vals Furiosa."

His composition combines the gravity of a chamber orchestra with contemporary drums and other signature elements. Tran said he draws inspiration from Frédéric Chopin and fellow classical composers.

"For something that I created at home, I didn't expect it to get me to this level of recognition," he said. "I'm just really glad my music is able to connect with people."

Jacob Gardner, Tristan Tran and Diver Jane-Ternay respectively won the first-place awards for writing, music and art at this year's ceremony.

The local branch of the National League of American Pen Women, Inc., which maintains a strong Longboat Key membership, hosted the awards ceremony on April 9 at the Prestancia Country Club.

According to President Wilma Davidson, this year's submissions impressed the judges.

"It makes me feel so good about the next generation of creatives," she said. "I appreciate their reflectiveness and caring."

Jacob Gardner won first place in the writing division, receiving the Otto Group at Hightower Advisors Award of Excellence in Letters, for his short story called "Tiny Faceless Gods."

Diver Jane-Ternay took first in the arts category for her painting titled "Inspired."

She drew upon memories of her upbringing on the road with her family band for her latest works, in which she has started incorporating color. She plans to pursue a career in entertainment, potentially as a music promoter.

The scholarship program recently shifted from a sole legacy source to public funding coordinated by the Pen Women, and Davidson said seeing such talent arise from within the community makes the fundraising work mightily worthwhile.

For more information about the program, visit SarasotaPenWomen.org/awards-program.

Diver Jane-Ternay explains the process behind creating the artwork that won her first place in her division at the "Launching Leaders in the Arts" award ceremony hosted by the Sarasota Branch of the National League of American Pen Women.

The 2025 winners of the "Launching Leaders in the Arts" scholarship awards celebrate.

Judges of the art category selected five top examples of submissions they said were technically exceptional and full of vision this year.

Branch President Wilma Davidson applauds the awardees.

Jaden Zomir accepts his award from judge Sandy Moulin.

Wilma Davidson, Jacob Gardner and Laurel Corriveau

The original Longboat Key Fire Rescue logo showcases the beaches for which the island is renowned.

Photo by Dana Kampa

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.