For immediate release
Contact: Bill Underwood (561) 267-2632
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Program
Recognizes Students from Area High Schools
Wellington, FL — A total of 42 area students, eighteen each from Wellington and Royal Palm Beach High Schools and six from Wellington Christian School, were among those honored on Sunday, March 7 in an awards ceremony in the auditorium at Alexander W. Dreyfoos High School. The students received certificates of merit, with some also receiving and Gold and Silver Keys, which were awarded as part of the Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition, which was open to students from Palm Beach and Martin Counties.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards recognize student achievement in the visual arts and creative writing—in more than 30 categories, including poetry, graphic design, fashion and science fiction. Each year, 15 recipients (8 visual artists and 7 writers) receive the Portfolio Gold Award, plus $10,000.
Through the Scholarship Provider Network, hundreds of seniors who are recognized with a national Award are eligible for nearly $4 million worth of college scholarships at 60 schools and universities. The Awards offer opportunities for creative teens such as scholarships, recognition, exhibition and publication. An Award signifies to parents, teachers, community and colleges that a student is an accomplished artist or writer.
There are 96 Regional Affiliates throughout the country, and at least 30,000 teen artists and writers will be recognized in their regions. Each work is reviewed by a panel of arts professionals for the following criteria: originality, technical skill, and emergence of personal vision or voice.
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers runs the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program. It is a not-for-profit organization with the mission to identify, motivate and validate the next generation of artists and writers. They provide resources for creative youth to encourage, connect and empower them, through event and online networking, workshops, scholarships and career exploration with alumni role models and industry mentors.
The Alliance also serves as source of information for organizations and individuals who wish to support the creative development of our nation’s teenagers. The Alliance identifies teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and brings their remarkable work to a national audience through The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
Founded in 1923, The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the oldest, longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for student achievement in the visual arts and creative writing in the United States.
At the conclusion of the Palm Beach and Martin County regional exhibitions, one of almost 100 like it across the country, Gold Key-winning artwork and writing is forwarded to the national program in New York City, where a distinguished panel of prominent artists and arts professionals will select the national award winners. National award winners will be honored at Carnegie Hall in June, and the award-winning artwork is installed in galleries in New York, and at the Cochran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, adjacent to the White House.
Our young writers and artists now join a celebrated list of alumni from The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, including Richard Avedon, Truman Capote, Red Grooms, John Lithgow, Sylvia Plath, Robert Redford and Andy Warhol, to name just a few. For more information, visit http://www.artandwriting.org.
Students recognized at the awards ceremony on March 7 are:
WELLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
Name Grade Award
Gabrielle Byrd 10 Gold Key, writing
Debra Marcus 10 Gold and Sliver Keys, writing
Benjamin Copan 11 Silver Key, writing
Sara Fabben 10 Silver Key, writing
Joselyn Fonseca 11 Silver Key, writing
Samantha MacLaren 11 Silver Key, writing
Megan Byrne 12 Honorable mention, drawing
Andres Camacho 12 Honorable mention, design
Hailey Garrett 10 Honorable mention photography
Rebecca Gawron 12 Gold Key, photography
Gavin Hanley 12 Honorable mention, comic art
Devin Kelly 12 Honorable mention, photography
Max Lasure 12 Honorable mention, drawing
Corey Lucas 10 Honorable mention, digital art
Allison Parssi 10 Gold Key, photography; silver Key jewelry
Maria Romero 10 Honorable mention, photography
Joseph Wallace 12 Honorable mention, architecture
Brittany Woodcock 12 Honorable mention, photography
ROYAL PALM BEACH HIGH SCHOOL
Name Grade Award
Amanda Alard 12 Silver Key, Honorable mention, photography
Maggie Anderson 11 Honorable mention, photography
Brittany Bell 12 Honorable mention, ceramics
Brittany Dampier 12 Honorable mention, photography
Ashlee Duerr 12 Honorable mention, digital art
Charlotte Ford 12 Silver Key, photography, Honorable mention digital art
Marisa Gianoutsos 12 Silver Key, photo portfolio; Honorable mention digital art
Michael Hoffman 12 Honorable mention, ceramics
Allison Leonard 11 Honorable mention, photography
Emily Mille 11 Honorable mention, photography
Jawanna Moore 12 Honorable mention, digital art
Erica Morra 12 Honorable mention, digital art
Rachael Parry 12 Honorable mention, photography
Jillian Reilly 11 Honorable mention, digital art
Lauren Rice 12 Gold and Silver Keys, Honorable mention, photography
Alex Spears 12 Honorable mention, photography
Sara Walde 10 Gold Key, digital art
Brandon Weaver 12 Honorable mention, photography
WELLINGTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Name Grade Award
Kelly Baez 11 Honorable mention, photography
Michelle Baez 11 Gold Key, drawing; Honorable mention photography
Beau Britt 8 Honorable mention, drawing
Victoria Hart 8 Honorable mention, photography
Britta Smythe 10 Gold Key, phograph, Honorable mention photography
Stephanie Weil 8 Honorable mention, photography
-END-