A “remarkable” number of student writers and artists were recognized in the Massachusetts Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running competition to identify creative talent among students. Thirty-one students earned 43 writing honors and 19 students earned 34 art honors. Last week, Ms. Baker and Mr. Nobles announced the winners at assembly.
In writing, Anne Kwok ’21 received numerous awards in poetry and fiction including three Gold Keys, one Silver Key, and one Honorable Mention. For her poem “Aubade For My Sister,” she also received an American Voices and Visions Medal, the highest regional Scholastic honor.
“It is one of the more abstract poems I’ve written,” said Anne, who currently takes the creative writing course and the poetry half course. “I’m experimenting with new forms of writing and exploring different poetry forms.”
Last fall, her work was also recognized by the Foyles Young Poets competition, when she was awarded Commended Poet. Anne said she’s always loved writing, but at Milton she has more opportunities to write poetry. She’s also enjoyed having visiting poets on campus, such as Gregory Pardlo, who spent time in her class. “I’d been struggling a lot with appropriating someone else’s voice and he told me it’s about finding the individual story and to focus on that.”
Erica Yip ’20, who earned a Gold Key and Silver Key in poetry, also was a finalist in the 2020 Young Arts National Competition for a play script adapted from a piece of her fiction.
In the Scholastic Arts Awards, Grace Li ’20 earned awards in photography including a Gold Key for her photograph “space and movement,” a Silver Key for “blue bedroom” (in photo) and four Honorable Mentions.
“One of the reasons I am drawn to photography is the ability to warp a viewer’s perception of reality through a medium that, historically, has been trusted to accurately capture it,” said Grace. “With Polaroid film specifically, I enjoy experimenting with different ways to manipulate the film and chemicals used to develop the image. By changing the temperature or interfering with the development of the film, I can create new realities.”
Scholastic works in conjunction with the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University and the Boston Globe to judge regional winners. Gold Key winners are welcome to participate in the regional awards celebration, which will be held on March 14 at Tufts. Gold Key work is currently being reviewed at the national level in New York City by panels of creative professionals for National Medal honors.
All Scholastic Writing Regional Gold Key Winners
Victoria Choo: personal narrative
Katie Conn: poetry
Anne Kwok: fiction
Anne Kwok: poetry
Anne Kwok: poetry
Nara Mohyeddin: poetry
Erika Yip: poetry
All Scholastic Writing Regional Silver Key Winners
India Claudy: fiction
India Claudy: poetry
Eliza Dunn: fiction
Ainsley Iwanicki: poetry
Anne Kwok: fiction
Shiloh Liu: personal narrative
Grace Perryman: poetry
Erika Yip: poetry
All Scholastic Writing Portfolio Winners
Katie Conn
Beck Kendig
Malia Chung
All Scholastic Writing Regional Honorable Mention Winners
Samantha Bateman: poetry
Alison Blake: personal narrative
Carolina Bragg: poetry
Alison Cao: poetry
Michelle Chen: personal narrative
Victoria Choo: fiction
Katie Conn: fiction
Fatou Diaw: poetry
Michael Dmitrienko: poetry
Josh Hwang: fiction
Josh Hwang: poetry
John Hwang: critical essay
Ainsley Iwanicki: fiction
Anne Kwok: poetry
Sophie Lachenauer: poetry
Grace Li: poetry
Bella Lora: poetry
Eleni Mazareas: poetry
Leydn McEvoy: poetry
Anthony Mora: poetry
Liv Pouliot: poetry
Tapti Sen: poetry
Lynn Yuan: poetry
Cece Zinny: poetry
All Scholastic Art Regional Gold Key Winners
Alexandra Barron: photography, Young Eagle Huntress
Alexandra Barron: photography, Daily Chores
Thea Chung: photography, Girls at the Park
Grace Li: photography, space and movement
William Livingston: ceramics & glass, Texas Longhorn
Daisy Marshall: sculpture, Runner’s High
Eloise Maybank: drawing & illustration, Portrait of Edward Fox
All Scholastic Art Regional Silver Key Winners
Alexandra Barron: photography, tossed away
Alexandra Barron: photography, A Fleeting Moment in Venice
Alexandra Barron: photography, Son of God
Jeanette Hitt: photography, Gleam
Jeanette Hitt: photography, Self-Portrait
Ainsley Iwanicki: ceramics & glass, Botanical #7
Ainsley Iwanicki: ceramics & glass, Wood Coil #3
Grace Li: photography, blue bedroom
Jennifer Lim: drawing & illustration, Subway Station Entrance
Yidan Yuan: comic art, Asphyxia
All Scholastic Art Regional Honorable Mention Winners
Nicole Cepeda: painting, Liberation
Thea Chung: photography, Pinks
Thea Chung: photography, Skin
Ethan Furdak: painting, Facets of Modern Materialism
Grace Li: photography, Views over Tibidabo
Grace Li: photography, gentle shadows
Grace Li: photography, streets of barcelona
Grace Li: photography, the outlook
Zach Neri: printmaking, Self Portrait Print
Jalen Nixon: photography, Inside from the Outside
Henry Perry-Friedman: photography, J&J Soft Serve
Jennifer Small: photography, Apples
Jiawei Sun: drawing & illustration, Perfect Strangers
Olivia Taveira: art portfolio, Digital Illustrations
Madeleine Weiler: photography, Orange Crowned Warbler
Yidan Yuan: mixed media, Cut Her Off
Yidan Yuan: drawing & illustration, City of Two Worlds
