TOWSON, MD—Thirteen Baltimore County public school students have won national medals through the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing program of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the nation’s longest running arts recognition program for students in grades 7 to 12.
The 2022 program began with 260,000 entries from US territories, Canada and every state in the country. Of these, 40,000 have achieved regional recognition and nearly 2,000 have received national medals. National medalists are eligible for scholarships of up to $10,000. The top national medalists are invited to a national awards ceremony on Thursday, June 9 at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Maryland students won 51 medals and BCPS students won a quarter. The following medals have been received by BCPS students.
Gold Medal Portfolio Award (highest honor in the program, only 22 awarded – award includes $10,000 scholarship)
• Shaeley Lincoln, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, “What They See, What I See”, artistic portfolio (educator: Joe Cypressi)
Gold medals
• Cheyenne Brown, Carver Center, “In the Eye of the Beholder”
• Josephine Halushka, Carver Center, “teenage girls: the revolution,” poetry (also won an American Voices Medal, writing honor)
• Divine Iweha, Carver Center, “The Reaping”, drawing and illustration
• Maggie Kurtz, Hereford Middle School, “Pushing Up Daisies”, drawing and illustration
• Angela Ma, Carver Center, “Infatuation”, digital art
• Brittney Simbana-J, Carver Center, “Your Landscapers,” Photography (Also Won US Award
Visions Medal, a visual arts honor)
• Brea’ Williams, Carver Center, “Not So Little Anymore”, mixed media
Silver medals
• Nate Fink, Carver Center, “Paw-parrazi”, drawing and illustration
• Anne Hauser, Carver Center, “After the Storm”, drawing and illustration
• Rowan Leary, Carver Center, “I am a Stranger’s Words”, expanded visual arts project
• Brittney Simbana-J, Carver Center, “El Machismo”, painting
• Brea’ Williams, Carver Center, “Has Life Become?” technique Mixte
“We are so proud of these students for their outstanding artistic achievements,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams, “and we so appreciate the many ways their teachers and families have nurtured their growth. Our school system is fully committed to arts education as an integral part of the overall school experience and the personal development of each student.
In a press release, Chris Wisniewski, executive director of the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, said: “Each year, we are constantly impressed by the level of creativity shown by our country’s teenagers. The individuality, vulnerability, sensitivity and passion reflected in their work is even more impressive. The teenagers and their teachers have lived through truly unprecedented times, enduring incredibly difficult circumstances. We are all privileged to hear about the accomplishments of this year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Awards winners, who channel the hopes, fears, anger, frustrations, desires – the voices – of remarkable young people to inspire us all. We thank the educators who have guided and supported these students throughout the past year while encouraging creative expression. »
Since its founding in 1923, those honored by the Scholastic Art & Writing Program have made notable contributions to the arts. Alumni include National Young Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, author Stephen King, actor John Lithgow, author Sylvia Plath, actor and director Robert Redford, artist Tschabalala Self, artist Andy Warhol and the artist Charles White.