Some very talented Smithtown High School students have been awarded for their artistic and journalistic prowess. Sixteen student-artists from both Smithtown High Schools are recipients of 31 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards presented by the Alliance for Young Writers and Artists.
Out of the 31 awards, Smithtown High School West’s Anya Beck and Brandon Valdez from Smithtown High School East are the two gold key winners. The two students will proceed to nationals for a chance to compete for $40,000 in scholarships.
Smithtown High School West Silver key and honorable mention winners:
Joseph Aquiare, Anya Beck, Iryna Dovirak, Kyle Finkelstein, Tiffany Holtje, Aaron Kelly, Katelyn Kguloian, Laura Minet, Jessica Pofcher, Arianna Prokos and Griffin Reynolds.
Smithtown High School East Silver key and honorable mention winners:
Kyle Castiglione, Christian DeMarzo, Brandon Valdez, Jamie Werner and Zack Rosalie.
About The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers is made possible through partnerships of over 100 visual arts and literary arts organizations nationwide. The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, created the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in a pursuit to identify and award young literary and artistic talent. Through the Awards program, students are given the chance to witness the publication and exhibition of their work in addition to receiving scholarships.
Over the course of the 2015 program year, students across the country submitted 300,000 works of art and writing to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Over 68,000 were recognized at regional levels and celebrated in local exhibitions and ceremonies. National Medals were awarded to 2,000 of the very best works in the country, which were distinguished at a special ceremony at Carnegie Hall.