Beechwood Students Have their Art Recognized at the Local and National Level
The annual Scholastic Art Awards are held every year to recognize and honor middle and high school students who pursue their passions in the arts and produce stellar work. The nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition is open to students in 7th-12th grade. Students are first judged regionally on their submissions, and if they receive a Gold Key Award they compete for national medals and are honored at the National Awards Ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Hope Evans Duct Tape dress
This year, four Beechwood Independent Schools students captured five different awards.
Freshman Hope Evans won a Gold Key in fashion design for a dress made of coffee filters and an honorable mention for her dress designed with duct tape. Hope’s coffee filter dress will now be judged at the national level and should she receive a National Silver or Gold Key, she will be invited to Carnegie Hall this summer.
Senior Brandon Agosto-Gonzalez won a Silver Key for his “Pablo Picycle” painting. Brandon is a repeat winner, having won a Gold Key for his sculpture piece titled “Modern Technology” when he was in eighth grade that went on to win a National Silver Key, and an Honorable Mention his sophomore year in the painting category.
Senior Julia Murphy was awarded a Silver Key for her digital art piece called “My Mom’s Garden.”
Senior Ellie Schmidt’s photography entry, “Chinatown,” was awarded an Honorable Mention.
The Scholastic Art Awards has given these Beechwood students an opportunity to explore their passions and also work with new mediums. This was Julia’s first time working with digital art and she has found it’s now something she really enjoys. To others, this competition provided an even bigger meaning.
“The Scholastic Art Awards is an opportunity for artists to present new ideas that can change the world,” said Brandon.
Beechwood High School art teacher, Monica Namyar, assisted the four students in submitting their pieces and has supported them throughout this process.
“I am very proud of the Beechwood art students,” said Namyar. “Their talents never cease to amaze me and it is exciting to enter their work in contests.”
Overall, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky schools have performed well in these awards. In 2017, 609 schools represented the region and after 5,000 works of art were submitted this year, 1,000 pieces were awarded and will be exhibited.
All winning pieces will be on display at The Art Academy of Cincinnati through February 9. An awards ceremony will also be held on February 9 at the School for Creative and Performing Arts.
Ellie Schmidt Chinatown
