SHS students proved their writing and artistic aptitudes in the 2015 Scholastic and Art and Writing Awards. The awards rec- ognize creativity and excellence in the arts for students in grades 7-12. There are three possible recognitions to attain: a gold key, the highest award where appli- cants go on to a national level, a silver key, and an honorable mention. Students who win either a gold or silver key are rewarded with an actual gold or silver key. Scarsdale students Sneha Dey ‘18, Jessica Kwong ‘17 Abigail Haber ’16, Yunchao Derek Le ’15, Marie Ceske ’16, and Maggie O’Keefe ’15. O’Keefe all won keys and honorable mentions on the regional level. O’Keefe and Haber not only won on the regional level but each received a national silver key in the final round of judging.
Le submitted artwork for the competition in the form of two portfolios each containing ten pieces such as paintings, sketches, sculptures, mixed media works, digital works, and photoshop works. He received five gold keys, five silver keys, and five honorable
mentions. His art career started at SHS in architecture class during his sophomore year. “I didn’t know much about art before then but I did a sketching of the interior structure of our commons and it turned out decent so I was like ‘I can give this a try’ so that kind of got me started with doing this whole thing.” He received a lot of help from an outside of school art pro- gram on his portfolio as well as help from retired teacher Maria Deangelis. “These awards sort of wrapped up my high school art experience and proved that I was actually decent at doing this. That was my biggest feeling about this,” said Le.
O’Keefe also submitted artwork. She received three gold keys, two silver keys and fifteen honorable mentions. She received not only the Scholastic Awards but a Gedenk Award, which recognizes art focused on the Holocaust, racial identity, and civil rights. She received help from an art program she attends every month called the Art Students
League of NY as well as help from her A.T. art teacher Nadine Gordon. “I’m very proud and excited for Derek and Maggie both winning awards for the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. I think that they are being recognized for the high level of talent they have. I’m very very proud of Maggie for winning a Slver Key for the Gedenk award on the national level,” expressed Gordon.
O’Keefe has been submitting work to the competition since 2013. “I would really recommend the Scholastic Awards because it gives the opportunity for all artists to gain recognition for their hard work.” said O’Keefe. Since O’Keefe won on the national level she has been invited to go to Carnegie Hall. “I am going to Carnegie Hall with all the national winners which is exciting,” said O’Keefe.
Ceske submitted seven pieces of writing into the com- petition and received a Gold Key, a Silver Key, and an Honorable Mention, for three poems she wrote. One of her poetry pieces was inspired by an Elizabeth Bishop poem, another was about feminism, and two others went together. The two were about being an introvert and the realities of the college process where students are reduced to statistics. Ceske has been entering the competition since the eighth grade. “I’ve always really liked writing and creative writing and I guess the award is for me… It’s not to feel like someone is appreciating and enjoying my work.” Not only do the awards recognize and praise the writings of many talented students, but they also strengthen the dedication and passion students have towards writing. “ Someone thinks my work is of value and that I should keep writing,” reflected Ceske.
by Rebecca Epemolou
