Waterford’s Upper School students entered this year’s annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Competition and both visual artists and creative writers received an impressive response at the regional level, with many continuing on to the national level.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have recognized the vision, ingenuity, and talent of our nation’s youth, and provided opportunities for creative teens to be celebrated each year since 1923. An increasing numbers of teens participate in the program and become a part of this community—young artists and writers, filmmakers and photographers, poets and sculptors, video game artists and science fiction writers—along with countless educators who support and encourage the creative process.

Waterford’s talented students show passion and elevated standards in the work they submitted this year.  Current awards here have been give for our Western region. Our region includes schools in Alaska, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and parts of California. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards—the oldest and most prestigious program of its kind in the country—gives Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mentions.  All Gold Key winners advance to the National competition; those results will be announced in mid-March. Seniors whose portfolios win the top National award receive a $10,000 scholarship. 

Two of our students won a nominations for top regional honors with an American Voices nomination (Sierra S., Class VIII – journalism) and an American Visions Nomination (Megan W. – photography). The American Visions and Voices Nominees include five works, from across all categories and grades, selected from those earning Gold Keys as the “Best-of-Show” for each regional program.  These Medalists are celebrated during National Events and at the National Exhibition in New York City. Congratulations to Megan and Sierra—this is an incredible honor. 

In the Visual Arts, there were 91 regional awards received by Waterford students:

Art Portfolio: 
Honorable Mention: 1 (photography)

Digital Art: 
Honorable Mention: 2

Drawing & Illustration: 
Gold Key: 1, Silver Key: 1, Honorable Mention: 3

Mixed Media: 
Honorable Mention: 1

Painting: 
Gold Key: 3, Silver Key: 4, Honorable Mention: 5

Photography:
Gold Key: 18, Silver Key: 34, Honorable Mention: 18

Total: 
American Visions: 1, Gold Key: 22, Silver Key: 39, Honorable Mention: 30

In creative writing, there were 21 awards received by Waterford Students: 1 American Voices Nomination, 4 Gold Key awards, 8 Silver Key Awards, and 9 Honorable Mentions. Waterford students earn this recognition for their critical essays, poetry, personal essays, and fiction pieces that are submitted. 

Congratulations to the incredible hard work put in by Waterford students. 

Please click here to see a gallery of the Gold Key winners.