The Maryland Region Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

The Awards The Maryland Region Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the nation's longest-running and most prestigious creative teen recognition program for students in grades 7-12. BOPA is proud to serve as the Maryland regional affiliate for this competition and support Maryland's next generation of creatives. Teens, ages 13 and up can apply in 28 categories of art and writing.

The Maryland Region Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

This year, we received 3,626 visual art submissions from 2,738 students at 2,058 schools. Last year, we got more total submissions (4,200 for art and writing), but from far fewer students (1,667). In 2022, 1,300 Maryland teens submitted a total of 3,000 works of visual and literary art. In just two years, the number of Maryland students submitting their work has more than doubled. And we haven’t even factored in this year’s Writing Awards yet!

All submissions are blindly judged by local arts professionals. Each piece is evaluated 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 forwarded for consideration at the national level of the Scholastic Awards. This year, the jurors bestowed the following Art Awards

It’s important to recognize that each Key & Honorable Mention is awarded to an individual piece of art. Even though we received fewer submissions this year, there are nearly double the number of awards in each category. (A total of 231 Gold Keys, 282 Silver Keys, and 407 Honorable Mentions were awarded in 2023.) Clearly, these students take their creative expression seriously, and that passion is evident in the quality of their work.

We are proud to announce the talented teens across the state who are recipients of the 2024 Maryland Scholastic Art Awards. BOPA is proud to serve as the Maryland regional affiliate for this national competition. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious creative teen recognition program for students in grades 7–12

American Visions Nominees

The top five regional submissions for Visual Art are named American Visions nominees. These nominees will also go on to compete in the national stage of the competition. Here are the 2024 American Visions nominees:

TOUGH COOKIE by Daniel M., Grade 10 (Ceramics & Glass)

SUM OF ITS PARTS by Chiara D., Grade 12 (Film & Animation)

NOTHING TO HIDE by Melissa F., Grade 10 (Drawing & Illustration)

American Visions Nominees

BREAKING TRADITION… by Alice C., Grade 11 (Painting)

“ART”IFICIAL INTELLIGENCE by Vincent L., Grade 11 (Editorial Cartoon)

The Top Five Regional Submissions For Visual Art

View the work of the top five regional submissions for Visual Art

The National Awards will be announced June, 12, 2024, and we have no doubt that many of our Maryland students will be among the recipients. To see the full list of regional Art awardees for the 2024 Maryland Scholastic Art Awards, click the link below

View The Scholastic 2024 Maryland Art Awardees

The dramatic increases in the number of participating students and awarded works this year are due in no small part to the hard work and coordination of BOPA’s Arts Education Specialist, Twi McCallum. We also want to give our deepest thanks to Baltimore Clayworks, Maryland Photography Alliance, Maryland Professional Photographers Association, and Baltimore Academy of Illustration for hosting inspiring workshops throughout the submission period to support students.

And it’s important that we acknowledge the critical impact of every single educator who mentored or encouraged a student this Scholastic season. Your enthusiastic commitment to your students’ success is invaluable.

Finally, we are sending a special congratulations to six outstanding art educators, who will receive a gift certificate on behalf of Blick Art Materials & Utrecht Art Supplies in appreciation of their extraordinary efforts. Please join us in applauding:

Jenny De La Cruz — Baltimore Design School
Valerie Ortiz — Queen Anne’s County High School
Christian Madenspacher — Linganore High School
Jane Im — Artipre Art Institute of Maryland
Tiffanie Anderson — Suitland High School
Alexandra Harter — Sudbrook Magnet Middle School

View The 2024 Scholastic Maryland Art Awardees

We are proud to announce even more talented Maryland teens who are recipients of the 2024 Maryland Scholastic Writing Awards. The Scholastic competition is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious creative teen recognition program for students in grades 7–12. As the Maryland regional affiliate, BOPA manages the first stage of the competition for area students. Regional awardees will then go on to compete at the national level.

View The 2024 Maryland Scholastic Writing Awards

American Voices Nominees

ODE TO A FLOWER by Elle N., Grade 8
POEM OF PERSEVERANCE by Elle N., Grade 8
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPTIED SPACE by Sarah G., Grade 11

American Voices Nominees

THE ART OF PREVENTING THE INEVITABLE by Maya D., Grade 9
A GIRL; DREAM AND DESTINY by Oliver D., Grade 12

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.

For More Information

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.

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