SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP — For the second consecutive year, 12 students at Moeller High School accumulated more than $1 million in scholarship offers to art schools around the country.

        Although it's a well-kept secret locally, the school has gained a national reputation among art schools. An added bonus is these aspiring artists also excel academically.

        “These kids are so talented in so many ways,” said Greg Stanforth, a Moeller art teacher. “The biggest challenge is, "Which thing am I going to do out of all the things I can do well?' ”

        The class of 2001 became the first “Million Dollar” class with 12 seniors gathering $1,146,156 in offers. This year's class received $1,066,738 in offers.

        “My classmates and I have worked extremely hard over the past four years,” said Steve Peck, 18, of Montgomery. “Our commitment to art has led us to success. We motivated each other to do our best.”

        About 10 percent of Moeller's 900 students usually take classes in the Art/Photography Department. Competition is keen. Because of the program's small facilities, teachers have to turn kids away and concentrate on the college preparatory classes.

        Moeller consistently encourages students to do serious, ambitious pieces, said Catherine Redhead, director of admissions at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

        “The biggest difference between Moeller and a lot of other high schools is the teachers at Moeller understand the importance of drawing and painting from direct observation, dealing in perspective, interiors and exteriors,” said Ms. Redhead, who recruits at Moeller annually.

        “It seems to discourage students from falling into bad habits, such as super heroes and things from their imagination, which a lot of other high schools allow their students to do.”

        Moeller art teachers Brother Charles Wanda and his former student, Mr. Stanforth, are serious about their subject.

        “We don't care if it's fun,” Mr. Stanforth said. “They're not going to get good portfolios and good scholarships if they're not good artists. We do make them work. They work very hard.”

        Moeller benefits from Mr. Stanforth's experience as a former admissions representative for the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Knowing what art schools wanted, he helped students upgrade their portfolios.

        He encourages students to apply to as many schools as possible. Years ago, though, nervous parents didn't encourage their sons to send portfolios to too many schools.

        But scholarship offers started to climb after the 1993-94 school year, when teachers starting meeting annually with parents of juniors. Teachers reassured parents their kids wouldn't be starving artists if they pursued art careers.

        “We tell them, "Your sons can make a good living out there, but they've got to go to good schools,' ” Mr. Stanforth said.

        Alumni have worked in fields ranging from designing Honda motorcycles to owning advertising and design firms.

        Although this year's students amassed many scholarship offers, not everyone took the best offer. Nine of the 12 turned down larger offers from other schools.

        • Marc Reisen, 19, of West Chester Township will attend the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, where he'll major in transportation design. He received $18,000 in scholarships over the four years.

        “It was basically the sacrifice I made to go to a better school. There were schools that offered me $30,000 to $35,000,” he said.

        • Mr. Peck will attend the University of Cincinnati, where he'll major in the College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning. He was awarded $7,500 over a five-year period. He had better offers of up to $50,000 at other schools.

        • Mark Momper, 18, of West Chester Township will attend Miami University, where he received a $28,000 scholarship and will major in interior design. He had a $40,000 offer from another school.

        He credited the teachers for inspiring students to produce.

        “We're only going to be as good of artists as we want to be,” said Mr. Momper. “They made us want to become good artists. They've inspired us so much.”

        • Brandon Harris passed up a $40,000 offer. Instead, the 18-year-old from Kennedy Heights will attend the State University of New York at Purchase, where he'll major in film, even though he received no scholarship money.

        “The SUNY film program is second to none in developing film directors,” he said.

        When Mr. Harris first came to Moeller, he had no intentions of pursuing an art career.

        “It was something that interested me, but was secondary to sports at the beginning,” he said. “That shifted pretty quickly. It's really been one of the most important experiences I've had in my life.”

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