“In-Between;” Painting by American Visions recipient Aaron Kim
“Foreigner;” Ceramic sculpture by American Visions recipient Claudia Moore
Please join us in celebrating the talented teens across the State of Maryland who are recipients of the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards — the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious creative teen recognition program for students in grades 7–12. Through the Awards, students receive opportunities for exhibition, publication, scholarships, and more.
BOPA serves as the Maryland regional affiliate for this competition, which means we oversee the important task of collecting and evaluating submissions at the regional level. It's a big job: This year, 1,667 teens from Baltimore and the surrounding region submitted 4,200 works of visual and literary art — up from 1,300 teens submitting 3,000 works last year.
All works are blindly judged by local visual artists, novelists, poets, playwrights, educators, and editors. Each piece is judged based on originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice. Award recipients receive a Gold Key, Silver Key, or Honorable Mention. Gold Keys are automatically forwarded for consideration at the national level of the Scholastic Awards.
In addition to the Keys and Honorable Mentions, the top five submissions in the region for Visual Art are named American Visions nominees, while the top five for writing are named American Voices nominees. These 10 nominees will go on to compete for a National Medal.
American Visions Nominees
Aaron Kim
“In-Between” (Painting)
Grade 11, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville
Jada McAliley
“Mommy and Me” (Drawing & Illustration)
Grade 11, G.W. Carver Center for Arts-Tech, Towson
Sydney McDonald
“Silenced” (Photography)
Grade 11, G.W. Carver Center for Arts-Tech, Towson
Claudia Moore
“Foreigner” (Ceramics & Glass)
Grade 11, Holton-Arms School, Bethesda
Laura Richter
“Rememberance” (Film & Animation)
Grade 12, McDonogh School, Owings Mills
American Voices Nominees
Couryn Branch
“Too Black for Your Name Generator” (Poetry)
Grade 10, G.W. Carver Center for Arts-Tech, Towson
Fin Gohlinghorst
“I Wish I Was Entitled” (Personal Essay & Memoir)
Grade 10, G.W. Carver Center for Arts-Tech, Towson
Lila Kassouf
“Wednesday Evenings” (Flash Fiction)
Grade 10, G.W. Carver Center for Arts-Tech, Towson
Alexa Klein
“More Than a Meal” (Personal Essay & Memoir)
Grade 11, McDonogh School, Owings Mills
Cheyenne Masenburg
“Celeste, the Impossible” (Short Story)
Grade 11, G.W. Carver Center for Arts-Tech, Towson
VIEW GOLD & SILVER KEYS & HONORABLE MENTIONS
Finally, the Regional Awards Ceremony will take place March 12, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA). Painter and fiber artist Stephen Towns and children's author Katherine Marsh will serve as keynote speakers for this event.
The Scholastic Awards requires year-round engagement with schools, educators, arts organizations, and students. BOPA staff goes above and beyond to ensure that we are supporting the next generation of visual artists and writers.
Watch last year's awards show here.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a one-on-one or group information session, please contact Twi McCallum, Arts Education Specialist at Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts, tmccallum@promotionandarts.org.