WVCSD Artist of the Week: Jasmine Lorentzen

Warwick Valley High School senior Jasmine Lorentzen is always chasing personal growth. Whether it’s in the pool, on the slopes, behind the lens or in scrubs as an aspiring veterinarian in the CTEC Animal Science program at BOCES.

At the heart of everything Jasmine does are a few consistent themes: a love of nature, a drive for adventure and a willingness to challenge herself. Those interests have shaped her path both inside and outside the classroom.

Jasmine has been skiing since she could walk, then started horseback riding and swimming not much later, drawn to activities that keep her active and outdoors from an early age. 

When she arrived at Warwick Valley in eighth grade after moving from South Carolina, those interests also became a way to build connections. She made a deal with her twin sister that they would both join the swim team — a decision that led to years of commitment to the sport.

“She’s the one who really got me into it,” Jasmine said. “She wouldn’t join unless I joined with her.”

While athletics remained a constant, Jasmine discovered a new creative outlet during her sophomore year in Anna Penny’s Digital Photography class. What started as a class quickly evolved into a passion – and eventually –  a shared interest with her grandfather, who photographs birds in his spare time.

The two began taking special trips together, photographing wildlife and bonding over their photos. While her grandfather’s main focus is birds, Jasmine’s work focuses on wildlife of all kinds. 

“What I like about photography is that there are no right answers,” Jasmine explained. “It doesn’t have to be right. A photo should be how you felt at that moment.”

One of the most defining moments in Jasmine’s photography journey came during a recent trip to Africa with her grandparents, where she participated in a safari photography tour. Not only did she capture her award-winning image of a crocodile, titled Jaws, but she also learned from other professional photographers along the way.

“The photographer with us gave me a whole new perspective,” she said. “He encouraged me to experiment by over- or under-exposing images and thinking differently about the background around a subject. Everyone sees and edits things differently, and I really liked that.”

Her hard work and willingness to experiment have paid off. This year, Jasmine received a Scholastic Silver Key and five honorable mentions in the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition — a milestone that reflects years of growth.

“I’m really proud of how much my photography has improved,” she said. “I’ve submitted to Scholastic for three years. The first year, I didn’t get anything. The second year, I earned one honorable mention. And this year, I received five. You can really see the progress.”

The same love of animals that drives her photography has also shaped her future goals. Jasmine is currently in her second year of the CTEC Animal Science program at BOCES, gaining hands-on experience as she applies to pre-veterinary programs. Her top choices include Cornell University and Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences in Fort Collins.

One of her goals this year is to pass the certification exam to join the BOCES Wildlife Rehabilitation program, placing her on the call list as a first responder for wildlife emergencies.

Looking ahead to college, Jasmine hopes to continue swimming, skiing and horseback riding through clubs at college. And as for photography, she has no plans to stop. 

“I want to specialize in wildlife and farm animals, with the hope of working out in the field and being able to travel,” she said. “I would love to bring my camera with me and take pictures as I’m working.”

For Jasmine, progress hasn’t been about narrowing her path, but allowing her passions to intersect and shape one another as she moves forward.

Check out some of Jasmine’s amazing gallery of images, many of which were recognized during the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards on Friday, February 6, held in the Studley Theater at SUNY New Paltz.