Saint Joe’s Scholastic Winners
Creativity is bursting from the seams at Saint Joseph High School. A tremendous number of students received recognition in the prestigious Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. This national competition, which has been honoring young artists and writers since 1923, celebrates exceptional student work across a variety of mediums, from painting and photography to poetry and personal essays. Notable artists and writers such as Andy Warhol (who won an award at 17 for a painting), Sylvia Plath (who won two awards at 14 for a painting and a poem), and Stephen King (who received an award for a short story at 17) are alumni who once submitted to Scholastic.
Each year, students in grades 7–12 from across the country submit their work in hopes of earning a coveted Gold Key, Silver Key, or Honorable Mention. The submissions are judged based on originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. With thousands of entries nationwide, receiving any level of recognition—whether a Gold Key, Silver Key, or Honorable Mention—is a testament to a student's talent and dedication.
Among this year’s recognized students at Saint Joseph is junior Neveah Lloyd, who received an Honorable Mention for her digital artwork. Neveah’s piece began as a simple photograph taken by her best friend in the school bathroom. Using Adobe Illustrator, she manipulated the image, experimenting with color tones to create a piece with a “darker undertone.”
“I kind of played with the colors to make it unsettling,” Neveah explained. Despite her talent, she admitted she was surprised when she found out she had won an Honorable Mention. “It was shocking because I’m not very confident as an artist, so it definitely boosted my confidence. It was an honor just to be recognized.”
While some students may hesitate to enter competitions like this, Neveah encourages others to take the leap and submit their work, no matter their skill level. “I’d say just submit it. You never know what can happen,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting much out of it, and I got an Honorable Mention. Definitely use your voice in your art because that helps a lot when they’re judging.”
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are more than just a competition; they serve as a platform for young creatives to gain recognition for their work and push themselves artistically. Winning students can move on to national-level judging, where Gold Medal winners may have their work exhibited in New York City or published in national anthologies.
Whether through digital art, photography, or creative writing, the work at SJHS stands as a testament to the power of self-expression. And as more students submit their work in the coming years, Saint Joseph’s artistic presence in the competition is only bound to grow.