Olivia Felty received a silver medal from the Scholastic Arts and Writing program at the University of Iowa
Collinsville High School senior Olivia Felty was among students recently honored at the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education at the University of Iowa Scholastic Celebration in Three Acts for young artists and writers.
The Belin-Blank Center is the Iowa and Midwest Region-at-Large Affiliate for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program is the nation’s longest-running, largest, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens.
Olivia received a silver medal for her her poem “Father.” The poem was inspired by the Netflix show “The Keepers” and the movie “Spotlight.”
Olivia, who has won several writing and poetry awards during her years at Collinsville High School, plans to attend Columbia University in Chicago next year to study creative writing.
“This is a big award, so it has given me a lot of confidence,” says Felty, “It’s also special to me because one of my favorite writers, Sylvia Plath, received this award.”
Over the past 95 years, in addition to Plath, the Awards have recognized and encouraged artists and writers such as: Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Robert Redford, Tom Otterness, and Zac Posen.