What are the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards?

• The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards recognize student achievement in the visual and literary arts in 28 categories, including painting, novel writing, mixed media, poetry, digital art, journalism, and more.

• Since the program’s founding in 1923, the Awards have fostered the creativity and talent of millions of students, including renowned alumni who have gone on to become leaders in their fields, including Ken Burns, Derek Fordjour, José Parlá, Kay Walkingstick, Sylvia Plath, Andy Warhol, , Charles White, Amanda Gorman, Tschabalala Self, Joyce Carol Oates, and Tracy Reese.

• An Award signifies to parents, teachers, the community, and colleges that a student is an accomplished artist or writer.

• The Awards offer opportunities for creative teens to earn recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarships.

• In the 2024 program year, 16 high school seniors received the Gold Medal Portfolio, which includes a $12,500 scholarship.

• Each work of art and writing is blindly adjudicated, first locally through the more than 100 affiliates of the Alliance, and then nationally by panels of judges comprised of renowned artists, authors, educators and industry experts.

• Works are judged on originality, technical skill, and emergence of personal vision or voice.

• To learn more about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and to read the full rules, visit: https://www.artandwriting.org/awards/how-to-enter/

What is The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers?

• The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers is the national nonprofit organization that presents the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and provides additional opportunities for creative teens to be recognized for their talents and to earn scholarships for their education.

• The Alliance’s mission is to identify teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and bring their remarkable work to a national audience.

• The Alliance also serves as a source of information for organizations and individuals who wish to support the creative development of our nation’s teenagers.

Gold Portfolios, Art

Scarlett Cai, Princeton, NJ

Avery Davis-Fehr, Eden Prairie, NM

Ashlin Kwong, La Grange, IL

Jada McAliley, Towson, MD

August Moon, Alexandria, VA

Lia Musser, Arlington, VA

Brenna Rusk, Grand Prairie, TX

Walter Sanmartin, Miami, FL

Beverly Zheng, Alpharetta, GA

Gold Portfolios, Writing

Celina Bagchi, Fort Washington, PA

Diemmy Dang, Pottstown, PA

Aina Marzia, El Paso, TX

Isa Nava, San Antonio, TX

Adiyah Parham, Baltimore, MD

Addison Rahmlow, Slinger, WI

Kashvi Ramni, Andover, MA

The Scholastic Awards exhibitions program offers creative teens opportunities for their work to be displayed in museums, galleries, libraries, and in other prominent venues. The annual National Exhibition showcases art and writing from the current year’s Gold and Silver Medalists. This exhibition brings the best of teen creativity into galleries in New York City as well as into people’s homes across the nation through the virtual component of the exhibition, making the work accessible to thousands of viewers and readers. 

The Scholastic Awards Traveling Exhibition comprises a curated selection of works that travels the country to bring the best of the Awards to all corners of the U.S. The Traveling Exhibition features works by students in host cities and includes engaging programming such as workshops, film screenings, student readings, and school group visits. The Scholastic Awards DC Exhibition at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., features a curated selection of works that are prominently displayed in our nation’s capital.

What is the National Student Poets Program?

• The National Student Poets Program is the nation’s highest honor for youth poets presenting original work. It is a collaboration of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. The Program builds upon the Alliance's longstanding work with educators and creative teens through the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

• Representing five geographical regions of the nation, the 2023 National Student Poets are:
  • Jacqueline Flores (Southeast), Fort Meade Middle Senior High School, Zolfo Springs, FL.
  • Miles Hardingwood (Northeast), Hunter College High School, Brooklyn, NY.
  • Shangri-La Hou (Midwest), John Burroughs School, Saint Louis, MO. 
  • Kallan McKinney (Southwest), Norman High School, Norman, OK.
  • Gabriella Miranda (West), Rowland Hall, Salt Lake City, UT.

• Video: What is the National Student Poets Program?

• Information on the Program, students and upcoming events can be found at www.artandwriting.org/programs/national-student-poets-program/