Thirty-eight Milton students received recognition—Gold Key, Silver Key, or Honorable Mention—in the Massachusetts Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards began in 1923 and are considered the most prestigious arts awards for teenagers in the country. All Gold Key award work is submitted to the national scholastic competition, and those awards are announced in March.
Aditya Gandhi (II) won a Gold Key and Honorable Mention in poetry. “My interest in writing comes mostly from reading literature. I owe thanks to all my English teachers, but especially to Mr. Connolly. The two poems of mine that were recognized deal largely with identity and how it is shaped by culture and society.”
“Fish Guts” by Tony Xu (I)
Tony Xu (I) won a Gold Key award for his painting titled “Fish Guts.” “My interest in painting, specifically this type of realism painting, was inspired by visits to the fresh food markets in China as a kid, and also by my own interest in exploring grotesque and detailed images using oils. Brian Kim’s (Class of 2016) works last year were also an inspiration. I created this painting from a photograph of a real model that I made after purchasing a fish from the market.”
Caroline Massey (II) won Silver and Gold Keys for photography and a Silver Key in art. “I’ve taken photography at Milton since my sophomore year and fell in love with the medium. Working with photography gives me an appreciation for and fascination with people and light, and these two things ultimately became the main focus of my work. ‘Eleanor,’ my Gold Key photo, is a picture of my cousin Eleanor sitting in a pool with her head tilted upside down toward the camera. My cousin is my favorite subject to photograph—she’s always a very enthusiastic, cooperative and goofy model! When taking this photo, my main goal was to capture the light reflecting off the pool water as well as Eleanor’s compelling posture and beauty.”
Hannah Neri (II) won an Honorable Mention, Silver Key and Gold Key for her photography, as well. “My family likes to travel a lot, so photography is a great, portable way to document our trips and the different cultures, in a way that is unique to me. My photography is inspired by the people and places around me. All three recognized photographs were taken on trips—two of them when I was in Malawi visiting an orphan school and one of them in Bologna, Italy.”
Complete list of award winners
(GK: Gold Key; SK: Silver Key; HM: Honorable Mention)
John Albright (III): SK Poetry: Building Gaskets with My Father
John Albright (III): HM Poetry: How I Learned Politics
Keisha Baffour-Addo (I): SK Photography: Annabell’s Hand
Eloise Baker (II): SK Photography: Mannequin
Eloise Baker (II): SK Photography: Stormy Sunset
Mark Bodner (I): HM Digital Art: A Progression
Andrew Chan (II): HM Poetry: Caught in Amber
Andrew Chan (II): HM Poetry: Haikus for a Houston Suburb
Letitia Chan (I): GK Writing Portfolio
Claudia Chung (I): HM Drawing and Illustration: Unveiling
Claudia Chung (I): SK Drawing and Illustration: Flaws
Malia Chung (IV): GK Poetry: Waking
Emma Comrie (I): SK Photography: Sharon Springs 29
Emma Comrie (I): HM Photography: beach 6
Michelle Erdenesanaa (I): SK Poetry: Cattle Drive
Michelle Erdenesanaa (I): SK Poetry: Cold War Children
Serena Fernandopulle (III): HM Poetry: ICU
Aditya Gandhi (II): GK Poetry: A Hindu in Catholic School
Aditya Gandhi (II): HM Poetry: Migraine
Hannah Hachamovitch (II): GK Painting: Post-Thanksgiving
Kaja Hartwell (I): HM Photography: missing person: identity unknown
Katie Rose Hoffman (I): HM Poetry: Do you Wish to Save Your Work
Chloe Kim (I): GK Writing Portfolio
William Kim (III): SK Critical Essay: Technology Trap
Julia Lebovitz (I): SK Photography: Reflection
Max Li (II): SK Poetry: Gas Station
Caroline Magann (II): HM Digital Art: Sunrise Lake
Caroline Magann (II): SK Digital Art: Sunrise in an Open Room
Caroline Massey (I): SK Photography: Vogue
Caroline Massey (I): GK Photography: Eleanor
Edward Moreta Jr (II): GK Poetry: Surname X
Edward Moreta Jr (II): HM Poetry: Bridges
Edward Moreta Jr (II): GK Flash Fiction: Homes
Hannah Neri (II): GK Photography: Bologna
Hannah Neri (II): HM Photography: Her.
Hannah Neri (II): SK Photography: Jacaranda
Beatrice Ojuri (II): GK Poetry: NEVER MY HOME: A History of White America
Alexandra Paul (II): GK Poetry: On The Curb Outside of Al Punto
Benjamin Pratt (III): SK Poetry: Thoughts From Supermax
Benjamin Pratt (III): SK Poetry: That Blueblack Night
Lily Reposa (II): SK Photography: Unexpected Reflection
Joseph Schuster (I): HM Photography: The Board of Directors
Maxwell Seelig 7 GK Short Story: Faith For Tomorrow
Kailee Silver (II): HM Drawing and Illustration: Swim Meet
Caroline Strang (I): SK Poetry: Fourteenth Birthday
Caroline Strang (I): SK Poetry: Home
Caroline Strang (I): SK Poetry: Moon Scuffle
Nathan Strauss (I): SK Photography: Harbor Scene
Nathan Strauss (I): HM Photography: Rigging
Evita Thadhani (IV): HM Personal Essay/Memoir: Alive Again
Evita Thadhani (IV): HM Personal Essay/Memoir: A Voice for the Migrants
Alexandra Upton (II): GK Short Story: Loch Ness
Alexandra Upton (II): HM Short Story: Tickets
Abigail Walker (II): HM Poetry Elegy
Jessica Wang (II): SK Poetry: In the Kitchen with My Mother
Jessica Wang (II): GK Poetry: third street promenade in santa monica
Catherine Wise (I): HM Poetry: Other
Catherine Wise (I): SK Poetry: Bound
Catherine Wise (I): GK Poetry: Insides
Jonathan WuWong (II): HM Sculpture: Ghost
Jonathan WuWong (II): HM Photography: Sight Seeing
Haozhou Xu (I): GK Painting: Fish Guts
