The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, is the nation’s longest-running recognition program for creative students in grades 7-12, ages 13 and older. Students who register online may upload their work directly to the Scholastic website by the regional deadline (for D-E, it was in December 2024). There is a small entry fee; however, this may be waived if a request is made.
“It can open up other opportunities, such as residencies and scholarships.”
“Scholastic is an institution that has supported students’ artistic expression in writing and visual arts nationally,” says Ms. Marisol Diaz, Chair of the Art & Design Department. “It can open up other opportunities, such as residencies and scholarships.” You also become part of a community of Scholastic winners, adds Ms. Diaz. Past recipients have included Stephen King, Amanda Gorman, and Andy Warhol.
Entries that win a Gold Key are automatically considered for National Awards, including Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and scholarship awards.
The following D-E artists won Gold Key awards: Hudson Guzman ’27, Kylie Karageozian ’27, Nisha Rajan ’26, Mara Gualtieri-Horowitz ’26, and Sydney Adekanbi ’25. Of these recipients, Sydney’s digital art piece, titled, “Train from Guangzhou to Lagos,” went on to win a Gold Medal at the national level!
“Train from Guangzhou to Lagos’ was a way for me to display my pride in my mixed ethnicity and share my personal experience with others.”
“I chose to submit some pieces I had recently finished in my art classes that semester, AP Studio art and Painting & Drawing,” says Sydney. “‘Train from Guangzhou to Lagos’ was a way for me to display my pride in my mixed ethnicity and share my personal experience with others,” says Sydney. “The train both represents the journey that my grandmothers had to take from China and Nigeria to America during immigration, as well as how they connected me to two very different cultures… The photos of my grandmothers are real photos that I found while searching through old photo books, which led me to include them in that form!”
For the Scholastic writing awards, facilitated by Mr. Jeremy Meserole, English Department Chair and US English Teacher, Gold Key winners were Blake Glasser ’27, Caroline Dubinsky ’28, Leah Gavilan ’27, and Alia Saphier ’25. Blake subsequently won the national Silver Medal for his essay titled “The Price of Privilege: Wealth, Power, and Inequity in The Great Gatsby.”
“We’re so excited for our Scholastic Awards winners,” says Mr. Meserole.”To have so many of our students receive recognition from the Awards Committee is remarkable. We’re so proud of each recipient, and we’re equally proud of all of our students who submitted work this year.”
“It takes a lot of initiative to put yourself out there.”
Blake says he originally wrote his Silver Medal-winning essay as a class assignment in his 10th grade English class with Ms. Lisa Quirk. “After reading it, she offered thoughtful feedback and encouraged me to submit it to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards,” says Blake. “Honestly, I thought it was a long shot—but I am incredibly grateful for Ms. Quirk’s encouragement. I would not have submitted it without her, and I am so glad that I did.”
Of his impressions of the novel that inspired the essay, Blake says, “I was struck by how relevant many of the book’s themes still are today. The novel explores the ways money influences power, privilege, and responsibility… [Author F. Scott] Fitzgerald critiques the illusion of the American Dream—that success alone is not enough if you are not born into the right circles. As I was writing, I kept thinking about how much this dynamic still plays out in today’s world.”
Read Blake Glasser’s essay here.
Ms. Diaz says students who submit their work to Scholastic should be commended for their risk-taking. “It takes a lot of initiative to put yourself out there,” she says. “It requires a certain level of vulnerability to publicize your work and have it assessed by people other than your teachers.” Congratulations to all of our Scholastic award recipients!
