8 West High students receive Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Eight West High students received Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Jan. 28.

Hanah Kitamoto, Print Co-Editor-In-Chief

The Scholastic Art and Writing competition is the nation’s longest-running, largest, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. Eight West High students received awards in this competition of the Iowa and Midwest Region-at-large chapter hosted by the University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank Center Jan. 28. Any junior high and high schooler is eligible to submit writing and artwork such as poems, essays, memoirs or paintings. Teachers mentor students to submit the entries. Award winners include Amelia Douglas ’24, Anna Kalnins ’23, Heidi Du ’23, Jonathan Chen ’22, Athena Wu ’24, Maya Chu ’23, Lilly Graham ’24 and Paige Albright ’23.

The American Voice Nominees are the top five written submissions in the region from any grade level and category. Gold keys are awarded to the top 5 to 7% of all entries. Silver Keys are awarded to the top 7 to 10% of all entries. Honorable Mention is awarded to the top 10-15% of all entries.

Gold key winners will advance to the national judging and national awards will be announced March 23. Award winners are invited to the “Scholastic Celebration Online” that will premier on Sunday, March 7.

Student nameTeacher nameCategoryTitleAward
Amelia Douglas '24Christian AanestadPaintingabstractHonorable Mention
Anna Kalnins '23Darien RobinsPersonal Essay & MemoirNot Really A Travel ReflectionSilver Key
Heidi Du '23Darien RobinsPersonal Essay & MemoirCashmere ScarvesGold Key, American Voices Nominee
Jonathan Chen '22Darien RobinsCritical Essay Prehistory Repeats Itself: How Turtles Can Defeat The Apocalypse Honorable Mention
Athena Wu '24Katy NahraPoetryBloodGold Key
Maya Chu '23Kerri BarnhouseJournalismHate is a VirusGold Key
Lilly Graham '24Sara WhittakerCritical Essay America’s College Admissions System is Broken Silver Key
Lilly Graham '24Sara WhittakerCritical Essay The Demise of an Empire: The United States’ Tenure as Leader of the Free World is Ending as Its Democracy Crumbles Honorable Mention
Lilly Graham '24Sara WhittakerJournalism Local Businesses: The Cornerstone of Our Communities Honorable Mention
Paige Albright '23Sara WhittakerJournalismGrowing Change Gold Key