The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is an annual competition that gives creative students the chance to compete with other students around the country  Students submit a variety of art and writing pieces, from photography to poems. This school year, 33 students at Southern Lehigh High School won gold, silver, and honorable mention awards for their pieces.

“For anybody wanting to enter, I would definitely advise to do so!” senior Ashley Lee said. “There is no harm in entering, and regardless of whether you win an award or not, the exposure and sense of community is wonderful enough.”

This year, 30 students won awards for their art pieces. Senior Lexi Brown won a gold key for her photography. Freshman Cora Heitzer and senior Ashley Lee won silver keys for their artwork. Junior Maggie Moerder also won a silver key as well as an honorable mention for her photography. Freshmen Krishna Annambhotla and Rebekah Guindi, and seniors Daniel Flounders and Caitlin Roth won honorable mentions.

“I was surprised and the award was helpful because it told me I am doing something right,” Flounders said.

Two students won awards for their writing. Senior Alexandra McCue won a silver key, and senior Talia Trackim won two honorable mentions and two silver keys.

“I was actually surprised,” McCue said. “I entered my portfolio last minute, and I didn’t really think much of it.”

The competition has been giving up-and-coming artists and writers in schools around the nation a chance to compete since 1923. The awards are presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, a nonprofit organization whose goal is, “to identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to the world through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.”

“My favorite thing about participating in these awards is that you always have a chance to see how good your art really is when it’s being compared to that of others your age,” Heitzer said. “I think that Scholastic gives you a reality check, while allowing you to explore different areas of art and think more creatively.”

Students in grades 7-12 are welcome to submit their artwork and writing pieces in 29 individual categories, including design, comic art, painting, journalism, flash fiction, and more. In 2016, 320,000 pieces of work were submitted,

“[The number of submissions] varies. In the past there have been a lot more. I think we had about 39 this year,” art teacher Mrs. Stephanie Donald said. “We had almost all photography this year.”

The winners from the regional competition go on to compete at the national level, where they have the chance to win National Medals. The National Medalists, along with their teachers, will participate in the National Ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City.