The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers recently announced the 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Medalists. The national contest is designed to recognize young artists and writers for their creative talents.

NCSSM students won awards in both art and writing categories. Isabella Li ‘18 won two National Medals in the 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: a Gold Medal in the Short Story category for her story, “Past Midnight,” and a Silver Medal in the Personal Essay/Memoir category with her piece, “Irish.”

Li’s work was selected by creative professionals as the most accomplished in the nation. This year, more than 330,000 works of art and writing were submitted. Less than 1% were recognized at the national level. Students receiving top awards have been invited to attend a ceremony at the world-famous Carnegie Hall on June 8 and to participate in showcase events at Parsons School for Design at The New School and Pratt lnstitute’s Pratt Manhattan Gallery in New York City.

Since 1923, the Awards have recognized creative teenagers from across the country. By receiving a Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Medal, students join a legacy of celebrated authors and artists including Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Lena Dunham, and the renowned artist who will receive the Alumni Achievement Award this year, Paul Chan.

Three other NCSSM students also won awards in the 2017 contest.

Margaux Winter ‘17 won two awards:
Silver Key, critical essay, “The Power of Mutilated Knowledge”
Honorable Mention, poetry, “Green is Gold”

Katie Danis ‘18 won the following awards in the Southeast Region:  
Silver Key, Flash Fiction “I, cara”
Honorable Mention, Poetry “Gifts”
Honorable Mention, Critical Essay “Ignorance Is Bliss: Innocence and Dramatic Irony in Chu Yo-Sôp’s ‘Mama and the Boarder’”
Silver Key, Critical Essay “’Stay gold, Ponyboy’: How the Vietnam War Corrupted American Innocence”
Silver Key, Critical Essay “’All in One’: Individuality and Civil Rebellion in Ayn Rand’s Anthem”

Vivian Snyder ‘17 received two gold key awards for her artwork as part of the 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Read more about her awards.

Snyder’s two winning pieces are included below.