Michael Taylor
Residence: Penn Hills
Age: 18
School: Taylor is a senior at Woodland Hills High School. He plans to attend St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Westmoreland County, in the fall to study music and education.
Family: Parents, Terrence and Linda Taylor; two sisters, Brittany, 21, and Brooke, 10; grandmother, Babci Jean Patalski.
Noteworthy: Taylor recently won a third-place prize for his ceramic portrait of actor Marlon Brando in the WAD Clay Institute's annual High School Art Show at the 101 Space Gallery on the South Side. Taylor starting doing ceramics and sculpture beginning this year and worked on the project in his advanced art class. He submitted the bust in the competition at the suggestion of his art teacher, Margie Higginbotham.
Activities/Hobbies: Taylor is a member of the Woodland Hills track and cross country teams. He competes in long-distance events, including the 800-meter race and the 1-mile and 2-mile events. He was captain of the cross country team this past season. Taylor, who has been playing the violin since kindergarten, is the concert master for the high school's symphony orchestra. He also plays drums in the school's marching and jazz bands.
Quote: "I've always been involved in artistic areas such as music and performing, but I've never done anything like this (sculpture) before," Taylor said. "It feels pretty good to just come out of nowhere and be recognized. It's pretty amazing to me. I'll definitely continue doing sculpture, especially pottery. It's fun to make something tangible that people can enjoy."
