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| Mary Lerch - "Willow By The Pier" |
Senior Mary Lerch earned a National Gold Medal for her piece "Willow By The Pier." Senior Eliot Michael's Art Portfolio received a National Silver Medal, with six pieces that were awarded Silver Medals with Distinction.
"We are thrilled for Mary and Eliot, and this amazing national accomplishment," said DGN Fine Arts Department Chairperson Brayer Teague. "Their hard work and determination, coupled with the exceptional mentoring of their teachers, has propelled them to be recognized at this level. We could not be happier for them."
Fine Arts faculty member Robyn Bican shared, "I have had Mary as a student for four years as both a Drawing and Jewelry and Metalwork student. She is committed to creating meaningful artwork as she takes her time to develop ideas, sketches and looks for feedback for improvement. I am delighted to watch her challenge herself in Metalwork. There takes a sense of patience to accomplish successful Jewelry pieces that have good structure, craftsmanship, and design innovation. Mary has done this with ease. I am very proud that in Mary's final year as my student, her hard work and dedication to Jewelry and Metalwork has earned her this great accomplishment."
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| Eliot Michael - "Cat Machine" |
"I have worked with Eliot for several years," shared Fine Arts faculty member Marty Voelker. "He has always been skilled in his craft and thoughtful in his concepts. This year, he took that to another level, taking all he had previously learned and applying it to a very personal voice and vision. The portfolio category is a very challenging context to demonstrate success, because it must be displayed across a series of six interconnected works. This takes a sustained commitment to excellence over a long period of time. The Silver Medal with Distinction is a high honor and places Eliot's portfolio in the top 50 in the nation."
Each year, the Alliance of Young Artists and Writers partners with more than 100 visual arts and literary arts organizations across the country to bring the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards to local communities. Teens in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) apply in 29 categories of art and writing. Starting in 1923, the competition has made an enduring impact on the art and education. In 2020-21, students submitted over 300,000 works of art and writing to the Scholastic Awards.
Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients. Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.
Students receiving Regional Gold Keys, Silver Keys, Honorable Mentions, or American Voices and Visions Nominations are celebrated within their communities through local exhibitions and ceremonies. Gold Key works are then judged nationally by an impressive panel of creative–industry experts to receive National Medals, including Gold Medals, Silver Medals, American Voices and Visions Medals, Gold Medal and Silver with Distinction Portfolio Medals, and Special Achievement Awards.