Every masterpiece starts with just one thought. Still, out of those many brewing contemplations, where will young thinkers find a place to fuel their creativity and win recognition? The answer is right here at Columbia Heights High School (CHHS): the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards!
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is a program that is recognized as one of the most prestigious creative competitions for national students. It allows a platform for emerging talent to showcase their work and earn awards, scholarships and national recognition.
Seventeen Columbia Heights High School art students earned a total of 34 Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention awards at the 2025 Minnesota Scholastic Arts Awards (MSAA). Earning awards in Photography, Ceramics & Glass, Drawing & Illustration and Digital Art categories, the works were submitted with the help of CHHS art teachers Ms. Michelle Dietz, Ms. Sarah Honeywell and Mr. Isaac Glidden.
“I was inspired to submit my artwork to the competition because I wanted to spread my message about our negative impact on the Earth and its creatures,” Gold Key winner and ceramicist Yumna Ali (11) said. “My creative process included first drawing and workshopping how I could create my piece. I wanted it to be very meaningful with a lot of details. As I went along, I came up with more ideas to complete the piece. My achievements and awards give me the confidence to continue competing”
With boundless results, what can students benefit from entering? The official Scholastic Art & Writing website highlights tangible achievements and awards such as scholarships, cash prizes and certificates—all of which can be used toward a career (or side hustle) in art. National medalists are considered for national exhibition and publication too. This gives middle and high school students a chance to showcase their work and ability while being praised and recognized for their achievements. Regional medalists who have earned a Gold Key are automatically considered for national medals and direct scholarships. Silver Key winners are considered for local and regional exhibition displays around their community with the possibility of a summer training program to further improve their art skills.
National award recipients will be announced on March 26. Gold medalists will be invited to the National Ceremony in New York City at Carnegie Hall on June 11. If any Hylanders receive this honor, The Heights Herald will be sure to report on it.
“My inspiration for submitting my artworks was to get a chance to show others what I can do,” Silver Key winner Elizabeth Lee (11) said. “Winning a Silver Key for both of these pieces felt great. I was proud of myself and felt as if my skills were finally being seen and validated for what they were. It definitely motivates me to do a lot more in the future and to keep on improving.”
Interested in entering the competition next school year? Students can start right now by creating an account through the official Scholastic Art and Writing website: artandwriting.org. All entering students need to have their work reviewed by an art teacher (or English teacher if submitting writing) so the submission fee can be paid before the final submission is made. There is no limit on the number of pieces entered; students may enter as many as they want. There are 28 categories of art and writing that students can apply under, including traditional media, digital media, ceramics, pottery, photography, poetry, personal memoirs and more. The competition is open to all students in grades 7-12.
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards take many art and writing submissions into consideration. With so many submissions, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. Because of this difficulty, winning may seem but a distant possibility. Whether you earn a key or not, this experience is not only for students to gain a physical prize, but for their work to be seen by many more than just those walking the halls or reading the newspaper of their local school as well. Benefits that all submissions receive include additional feedback on their work from judges and their teachers, boosting creativity and work ethic through participating in the competitive process and establishing a sense of pride and accomplishment in one’s work.
