2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

InPassingFilmphotography GigiGeyer'23

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards were founded in 1923 and, for nearly a century, have inspired bold ideas in creative teens throughout the country. Approximately half a million pieces are submitted each year to be evaluated on their originality, technical skill, and personal voice or vision.

The Architect Filmphotography GigiGeyer'23

Awakening in Temple Beth Israel Photography Annie Chian '23

By: Alex Tang '23

Farewell

To chasing butterflies under the summer sun. For my time of carefree childhood is now done. To racing bikes, recess soccer, and playing by the sea. For those days of youth are long behind me.

To the icy bite of loneliness, self doubt, and dad. For I’ve found the family I’ve never had.

To the burns that have left me horribly branded, For I’ve come out forged stronger and beautifully sanded.

For King and Country

1914 on Christmas Day,

On the western front, the guns died away, We were lying in mud, on bags of sand, We heard a German voice from no man's land, His tenor voice, so pure and true, The words were strange but notes we knew It floated above both living and damned, That young German voice from no man’s land, They left their trench and we too left ours, Despite the wishes of ruling powers, With chocolates, photos, and bottles of wine, We forged a rare truce on the front line, That odd thing of beauty on Christmas day, With our lives, the next year we’d pay, As next Christmas eve, the cannons all roared, And for King and Country, we died in that war. And though our brothers, we were forced to shell, The walls built between us crumbled and fell.

There are three honors awarded on the regional level:

Gold Key: The very best works submitted. Gold Key works are automatically considered for national-level recognition.

Silver Key: Stand-out works that demonstrate exceptional ability.

Honorable Mention: Accomplished works showing great skill and potential.

ZosiaDrawing&Illustration

TaliaTom'23

By: Coco Kliman '26

A Lollipop Before You Go

i can recall Daddy’s big arms wrap around me after a long day at work tumbling down the stairs I’d go, stuffed rabbit in my hand as soon as I heard the raspy rumble of his 1970’s Chevrolet roll into the driveway i can recall the sweet tang of the cherry lollipop Daddy always had in his pocket that left my lips raw and red he never forgets to bring them i can recall the buttery song of his saxophone seeping through the walls it sounds like a story with no ending once he let me touch its golden buttons it was cold it was magical

Scholastic Art Awards

HONORABLE MENTION

Ella Chang '23

Glitch – Photography

Joy – Photography

Leaping Angel – Photography

Pink Lady – Photography

Annie Chian '24

Awakening in Temple Beth Israel –

Photography

Gigi Geyer '23

Tilted Greeting – Photography

T-Nobile – Photography

Ada James '23

Au Pénombre – Sculpture

SILVER KEY

Gigi Geyer '23

Halsman – Photography

The Overpass – Photography

Twos – Photography

Talia Tom '23

Zosia – Drawing & Illustration

GOLD KEY

Ella Chang '23

Trapped Light – Photography

Gigi Geyer '23

Chess – Photography

In Passing – Photography

The Architect – Photography

Under Construction – Photography

Ziyang Liu '24

Under the Surface – Photography

By: Sienna Charvel '25

Growing Up

first i wanted to be 8 then, once i was 8, 10 seemed better once i was 10, 16 seemed right it was always about tomorrow today was never enough being cool meant staying up late and painting my nails being cool meant not wearing a sweater when i went out and swimming in the sea being cool meant climbing trees and being able to read being cool meant being nice my biggest dream was to go to the moon i played family and counted my loose teeth after dinner my brothers and i spent countless hours laughing while we ran away from our only worry, bath time, which meant playtime was over wanting to be 8 turned to wanting to be 16 so quickly and now that I’m 15 those times seem so simple so serene i look at photo albums to take me back to those times when my biggest dream was to go to the moon when i played family and counted my loose teeth when after dinner my brothers and i spent countless hours laughing while we ran away from our only worry, bath time, which meant playtime was over at first growing up was the best thing that could happen but now i am afraid being a “teenager” is supposed to mean wanting to wear shorter skirts and smaller shirts being a “teenager” is supposed to mean wanting to reach for drugs instead of chocolate being a “teenager” is supposed to mean wanting to be on our phones instead of playing card games being a “teenager” is supposed to mean thinking it's uncool to love our families being a “teenager” is supposed to mean wanting a boyfriend instead of friends being a “teenager” is supposed to mean needing to count calories instead of memories being a “teenager” is supposed to mean smiling our tears away but why? why is it that i am expected to wear smaller clothes why is it that drugs are cool why is it childish to want to play card games why can’t i love my family why is it expected for girls to have boyfriends why do i have to count my calories and why can’t i show emotion as a teenager i am not treated like an adult quite yet, but i am surely not a child so what am i? growing up i have been told that time flies i watched peter pan and didn’t understand why he didn’t want to grow up and now i get it