Art & writing competition honors nine
Feb. 16, 2023
Two portraits created by Marianna Paradise, a junior, received the program’s highest honor – the Gold Key. Marianna’s artwork – in the Digital Art and Drawing & Illustration categories – now advances to the national level competition. National Awards will be announced on March 22, 2023, at artandwriting.org. A selection of works by National Medalists will be included in the National Exhibition in New York City.
The following artwork and writing entries from Upper St. Clair High School students earned regional recognition:
Art Competition
- Marianna Paradise, grade 11:
- Gold Key, Digital Art, “June”
- Gold Key, Drawing & Illustration, “Patricia”
- Silver Key, Drawing & Illustration, “Mari”
- Julia Campagna, grade 9
- Honorable Mention, Sculpture, “Intertwined”
- Natalie Campagna, grade 11
- Honorable Mention, Fashion, “Fairytale,”
- Honorable Mention, Fashion, “Peaches and Jeans”
- Honorable Mention, Fashion, “Yin Yang Crystal Crochet”
Writing Competition
- Aahna Sinha, grade 11
- Silver Key, Poetry, “Sandalwood”
- Frankie Dubreil, grade 10
- Silver Key, Short Story, “existential crisis: a brief study of panic attacks and the unseen”
- Markella Jahn, grade 12
- Silver Key, Poetry, “biscuits”
- Honorable Mention, Short Story, “The Tiger Aunt - A Retelling”
- Luke McDonough, grade 11
- Silver Key, Dramatic Script, “Prospero”
- Honorable Mention, Dramatic Script, “Nikolas & Albert”
- Honorable Mention, Poetry, “If I Were Lucky”
- Nikhita Thakuria, grade 10
- Silver Key, Short Story, “The Colors”
- Silver Key, Poetry, “On Listening to Your Teacher Take Attendance”
- Jenny Wang, grade 11
- Honorable Mention, Poetry, “Beyond a Story”
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, open to students in grades 7–12, recognize student achievement in the visual and literary arts in 28 categories, including editorial cartoon, poetry, digital art, fashion, photography, sculpture, short story, poetry and more.
All works are evaluated through blind adjudication first on a regional level by more than 100 regional Affiliate Partners—school districts, museums, colleges and universities, libraries, and other educational organizations. At the regional level, works earn Honorable Mention, Silver Key, or Gold Key distinction. Gold Key work advances to the national level; at this level works can earn Gold, Silver with Distinction, and Silver Portfolio, as well as Gold and Silver Medal. At each level of judging, all works are reviewed based on the same criteria that have represented the program since its founding in 1923: originality, skill, and personal voice or vision.
An exhibition and awards ceremony for the Pittsburgh Region 2023 Scholastic Art Award winners and honorable mention recipients will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the College of Fine Arts & Kresge Theater at Carnegie Mellon University. The awards ceremony for Upper St. Clair students will begin at 4 p.m. Artwork can be viewed from noon until 4 p.m.
Writing award winners will be recognized at the Pittsburgh Region Scholastic Writing Awards from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday Feb. 25 in Point Park University’s Lawrence Hall.
