The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has an impressive legacy dating back to 1923. The Awards are the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens, as well as, the nation’s largest source of scholarships for those creative artists and writers. Each year, the Alliance partners with more than 100 visual and literary-arts organizations across the country to bring the awards to local communities. Teens in grades 7-12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for a chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published. Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts. Panelists seek works that best exemplify originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. A noteworthy roster of past winners includes Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Robert Redford, Stephen King and John Updike.
More than $250,000 is given annual through the Awards program in awards and scholarships to top winners and their educators. In addition, more than $8 million in scholarships is set aside annually by partners for recipients. Selections are also published in various Scholastic publications such as the Junior Scholastic magazine, Scholastic Art magazine and New York Times Upfront magazine.
Over the last few years Pasadena ISD has had a number of students’ artworks advance to the most prestigious national recognition program for creative teens in the United States. This year is no exception. Vanessa Sosa, 11th grader, at Sam Rayburn High School submitted two works for juroring at the regional level, earning two Gold Key Awards and advancing to the national juroring process. Both of Vanessa’s artworks earned National Gold Medals, and for that accomplishment she will be traveling to New York City with her teacher, Daniel Reyna, to receive her awards at a ceremony in Carnegie Hall, view her work hanging in the Pratt Institute Gallery, tour Parsons School of Design, and see her Scholastic Awards featured on two giant screens at Times Square. The ceremony will also be available for viewing through a live webcast. Please join us in congratulating Vanessa Sosa and her teacher, Daniel Reyna on her double win in the national art scene.
Click here to register for the 2014 National Ceremony Webcast LIVE from Carnegie Hall http://www.artandwriting.org/