DCPS Students To Receive Prestigious National Writing Honor
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2011 Recognize Nation’s Top Talent
Thirteen students from DCPS have joined the ranks of such illustrious writers and artists as Robert Redford, Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath and Truman Capote through the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards announced this month.
This year’s award recipients from DCPS are:
• Sofia Laguarda, grade 7, Deal Middle School, Gold Key, Gold Key American Voices Nominee
• Lillie Lainoff, grade 10, Wilson Senior High School, Gold Key, Silver Key
• Maria Brescia-Weiler, grade 8, Deal Middle School, Gold Key
• Annie Rosenthal, grade 8, Deal Middle School, Gold Key
• Rachel Page, grade 7, Deal Middle School, Honorable Mention
• Gillian Page, grade 7, Deal Middle School, Gold Key American Voices Nominee
• Eva Shapiro, grade 7, Deal Middle School, Silver Key
• Natalia Brito, grade 12, School Without Walls, Silver Key
• Keanu Ross-Cabrera, grade 11, School Without Walls, Honorable Mention
• Rashida Asante-Eccleston, grade 12, Wilson Senior High School, Honorable Mention
• Macara Oshida, grade 12, Woodson Senior High School, Silver Key
• Amanda Whitehurst, grade 12, Woodson Senior High School, Silver Key
• Yolande Zagre, grade 11, Banneker High School, Honorable Mention
“This is an incredible honor for these talented students and they should be proud to be recognized for this prestigious award,” said DCPS Acting Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “Our students have the talent, knowledge and skills to compete with their peers nationally. They truly are a reflection of the amazing our work that happens in our schools every day.”
Since 1923, the awards have recognized more than 13 million students and made available more than $25 million in scholarships. The awards continue to be the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens and the largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers.
The nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, which administers the awards, will honor national winners at a special ceremony May 31 at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York City. A regional ceremony honoring all local award-winning writers and their teachers will be held April 14 at the Spectrum Theatre in Rosslyn, VA.
The first level of recognition for these students’ outstanding work took place through Writopia Lab, one of 107 affiliate organizations nationwide that partners with the Alliance and the DC Area Writing Project to conduct The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in Greater Washington. One hundred twenty-two teen writers won 183 regional awards, including 29 Gold Key winning works, which went on to national adjudication.
The annual competition begins locally as students in grades 7-12 submit works of art and writing to their local affiliates. The work is then evaluated by a panel of jurors that includes authors, educators and other arts professionals. Works are judged on originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal vision or voice.
Select award-winning art and writing will be exhibited at the World Financial Center Courtyard Gallery in Lower Manhattan from June 1-19. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has declared May 31 the official Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Day and the top of the Empire State Building will be lit gold in honor of the students’ achievements.
For more information about The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, please visit the media room.
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