What's wrong with this picture?

We have a regional art club, the Western Ohio Watercolor Society, which meets at the Springfield (OH) Art Museum. For several years the club has offered a $300 scholarship to an area high-school-senior art student, with an added bonus of $300 for the teacher who nominates the winning student. Artist Jim McCoy donated additional funds, which increased the award to $500 for both student and teacher, in memory of his wife, an accomplished artist who taught art for many years in the public schools. Several months ago I was asked to judge the awards pro bono, which I was delighted to do. The judging was to take place this afternoon at the museum. Yesterday I received a call from the man in charge of the scholarship award. Larry sat at the museum for four hours and not a single entry was brought in, so my services weren't needed today. Can you believe it? Why would teachers not encourage their students to submit their work for such an award, with such a generous monetary incentive for themselves? Even without that, teachers should be helping their students to build a portfolio and resume for their art careers. I just don't get it. I have been feeling very sad today to think of this opportunity lost for some deserving student--because of a lazy teacher? So, so sad.