The Minnesota Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2026 have been announced. The Scholastic Art Awards are open to all students age 13 or older in grades 7-12 from public, private and home schools and community programs serving eligible student populations. Students receive opportunities for recognition, digital exhibition and scholarships. All entries are first considered regionally for Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention awards. Entries that win a Gold Key are automatically considered for national awards, including Gold Medal, Silver Medal and scholarship awards.

Congratulations to the following arts awards recipients: 
Ali Girk ’26—Silver Key, drawing, “Lurcat”
Madeline Hou ’26—Silver Key, painting, “Through my EYES”; Honorable Mention, architecture and design, “Phone Pavillion”
Lilah Mairose ’28—Honorable Mention, drawing, “Einstein” 
Elise Matney ’30–Gold Key, sculpture, "Chipotle Chips in Wood”; Silver Key, photography, “Kilauea Volcano Flow”; Honorable Mention, architecture and industrial design, “Inclusive Playground Design - CAD”; Honorable Mention, photography, “go with the flow”
Bristol Pann ’26—Silver Key, painting, “Counterfeit God”
Marian Stockwell ’29—Honorable Mention, painting, “Blue Hour”
Shiyan Sun ’28—Gold Key, painting, “Children in War”
Vida Wolstencroft ’28—Silver Key, drawing, “Most of All, I’m Grateful for You”
Lucy Zhang ’29—Gold Key, painting, “Joyful Companions”; Silver Key, drawing, “Caught in Wonder”; Silver Key, drawing, “Shared Glories”

Congratulations to the following writing award recipients:
Ben Aviles ’27—Honorable Mention, journalism, “Local Musician Finds Joy Through Hardships”
Graham Everett ’26—Gold Key, flash fiction, “Running Out of Ping Pong Balls”; Honorable Mention, poetry, “Why”; Honorable Mention, poetry, “Burden of Light”; Honorable Mention, poetry “A Walk Through Corinth”
Sophie Hahn ’30—Honorable Mention, short story, “Becoming American”
Chloe Kern ’27—Silver Key, poetry, “Ten P.M.”
Elise Matney ’30—Silver Key, journalism, “May Day in Minnesota”; Honorable Mention, journalism, “Flower Forward”; Honorable Mention, personal essay and memoir, “Quaker Life: More Spice Than Rolled Oats”; Honorable Mention, journalism, “St. John’s Bible Tour”
Ela Munankarmy ’29—Honorable Mention, poetry, “Empty”
Lucy Zhang ’29—Gold Key, short story, “The Real Dream”