H2H Writing Region of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
March 30th, 2025
O’Byrne Chapel at Reid Castle
Manhattanville College
2900 Purchase Street
Purchase, NY
About The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Founded in 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has served for over one hundred years as the nation’s longest-running, largest, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens, and the largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers. The Awards are administered nationally by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and locally through partnerships with regional affiliates.
The Hudson-to-Housatonic Writing Region of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is administered through a partnership with Writopia Lab, and serves communities north of New York City: Fairfield and Litchfield counties in Connecticut; and Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster counties in New York.
This year, teens from public, private, or home schools throughout America submitted more than 300,000 original works to the Awards’ 29 categories of art and writing. The H2H Writing Region received more than 2,500 writing submissions and awarded 568 teens a total of 169 Gold Keys, 266 Silver Keys, and 476 Honorable Mentions. All Gold Keys have gone on to further adjudication at the national level. National honors were announced on the artandwriting.org website on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025.
Submissions to the Awards are adjudicated blindly—jurors do not know the identity of student artists or authors. Jurors look for works that exemplify the Awards’ core values: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice.
The growing list of accomplished young writers recognized by The Awards has included Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Robert Redford, Joyce Carol Oates, and Lena Dunham. Outside the arts, Awards alumni employ their creativity to become successful in any number of ways—leaders in fields including journalism, medicine, finance, government and public service, the law, science, design, and more.
About Writopia Lab
Founded in 2007 as a 501(c)3 non-profit, Writopia Lab fosters joy, literacy, and critical thinking in children and teens from all backgrounds through creative writing.
Every day at Writopia Lab, we witness the transformative power of being heard. Because of this experience, we are dedicated to giving teen writers the opportunity to be read—and celebrated—as part of the broader literary community. To help make this possible, we administer the H2H Writing Region of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Writopia Lab coordinates submissions, organizes the adjudication, and presents the Awards Ceremony for regional recipients.
Writopia Lab is a nationwide community of young writers that runs school-year and summer programs at locations in the metropolitan regions of New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area—as well as online and in-person programming throughout the United States and abroad. For more information about Writopia Lab’s programs, please visit WritopiaLab.org.
American Voices Nominees
Each year five American Voices Nominees are selected from the H2H Writing Region to exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice. During the national re-adjudication of all regional Gold Key works, the region’s American Voices medal recipient will be chosen from among these nominees.
- Harry Kaufman, for “Bone Marrow” (Dramatic Script)
- Shirin Sadoughi, for “Evergreen” (Poetry)
- Arielle Sibley-Grice, for “First hello, last goodbye” (Flash Fiction)
- Glen Feng, for “From Past Historical Flaws Curtailing Their Freedoms to Contemporary Racism That Fuels Their Desire to Fight for Their American Dream: Why is Being Asian American Just So Difficult?” (Critical Essay)
- Mia Bornstein, for “Portrait of Pluto” (Personal Essay & Memoir)
The Village Bookstore Middle School Prizes
The Village Bookstore of Pleasantville, NY is proud to present six prizes for middle school writers! These prizes aim to empower and embolden middle school writers who demonstrate exemplary skill and promise in their writing abilities, and to encourage their interest in and love for the craft.
- Anna Liu, for "Choosing Kindness" (Personal Essay/Memoir)
- Milan Ackerman, for "Reminders" (Short Story)
- Emma Wolff, for "Social Media Storm" (Dramatic Script)
- Erin Lang, for "Still Me" (Poem)
- Gianna Lopez, for "TITLE" (Poem)
- Heidi Balkan, for "Washed Away" (Poem)
Special Thanks
To our keynote speaker: Maxine Charles.
To our esteemed jurors, for providing their valuable time and expertise.
To Writopia Lab’s volunteer staff, interns, and student families.
To Joe Wallace and The Village Bookstore of Pleasantville, NY, for sponsoring six prizes for middle schoolers. Among the few independent neighborhood bookshops remaining in the region, The Village Bookstore features a great selection of books and gifts. Their knowledgeable staff is committed to the local community and welcomes special orders! They are located across from the Jacob Burns Film Center, at 10 Washington Avenue, Pleasantville, New York.
Our Keynote Speaker
Maxine Charles is an associate editor at Flatiron Books, a subsidiary of McMillan. Prior to joining Flatiron in 2020, Maxine Charles was an editorial intern at literary agencies Writers House and Aevitas Creative Management. She has a passion for genre fiction and uplifting marginalized voices. She gravitates toward thought-provoking fantasy, science fiction, horror, and thrillers that use genre elements to present social commentary and subvert expectations. Her authors at Flatiron include Yume Kitasei (The Deep Sky) and Amy Avery (The Longest Autumn).
The Recipients
Gold Key Recipients
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Milan Ackerman Rachel Agnello Sara Anderson Veronica Antov Neena Atkins Heidi Balkan Waverly Beckwith Ellie Bierman Ava Blue lucie Bohnsack Vidhan Bokaria Amy Boller Mia Bornstein Julia Broder Allegra Brown Ella Brown Grey Cameron Jay Cao Jiachen Cao Cindy Chen Arianna Chin Leehyun Choi Annabelle Chu Fiona Collins Lucy Crimmins Pierce Crosby Alexi Dalamagas Ayush Dave Macy Delottie Jaymin Ding suzuran draper Olivia Dunev Fiona Ellis Lilliana Esposito Hayley Fallquist Jeremy Fang Glen Feng Ziyi Feng Nia Forbes Rory Frasch Warren Fu Charlotte Fuchs Greta Garcia Briana Gomez Marnuely Gonzalez Isabella Grimm May Hakimizadeh |
Chloe Hart Silvana Hernandez Victoria Herold Abby Horton Lasya Hota Judith Huang Serena Huang Catherine Hume Julian Jacinto Naomi Jeske Julia Johnson Mya Johnson Olivia Johnson Alex Kabakov Dylan Karpf Harry Kaufman Adam Khan Lyra Kinderlerer Gemma Kirt Eric Kwon Olivia Kwon Erin Lang Paper Sewoniku Alexander Lee Esther Lee Olivia Lee Dylan Lemberg Blake Levin Audrey Li Youhan Liang Illaria Liedtke Anna Liu Chloe Liu Gianna Lopez Grace Lu Isabella Lu Gabriella Luma Ashley Malkin Ellie Malone Hannah Mehler Lindsay Miao Hannah Miller Halle Monschein Serra Nalbantoglu Ambika Nott Lolade Oshin Daphné Panié |
Olivia Pierry Shreya Prabhu Ashley Qu Joshua Quinn Olivia Regan Arielle Richer Claire-Helene Ritter Hadley Robertson Abraham Rosenschein Mila Rymarczyk Daniela Rynott Shirin Sadoughi Claire Schlesinger Carla Schober-Gonzalez Yu Tung Shan Olivia Shim Emily Shull Arielle Sibley-Grice Nico Stefanoni Alexandra Steyn Sadie Tamburri Kiron Taylor Adeline Thompson Jack Thompson Eian Tsou Shashi Uppuluri Anika Vaidheeswaran Lucca Vellano Aditi Vijil Le Wang Max Wang Mica Wang Tancrede Weinstein Penelope Whitbourne Remment Wise Emma Wolff Lucy Woodbury May Wright Grace Wu Emma Yeon Eileen Yoo Aiden Younessian Eli Zargari Angela Zhao Xiaowen Zhou Yuhan Alice Zhou |
Silver Key Recipients
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Tessa Addeo Jeffrey Adrian Rachel Agnello Bill Aishman Jude Al-Mufti Caroline Almeida Gianna Ancona Veronica Antov Zyriean Arenas Dudley Laurel Aronian Rahul Arora Eliza Bailey Amelia Bargas Frieda Belasco Sahana Bettegowda Anya Bhuyan Amy Boller Madeleine Borducci Claire Breslow McKenna Brewer Aria Brown Lefa Brown Sonali Browning John Butkiewicz Lucia Butterfield Helen Cao Jiachen Cao Marlowe Cautin Hannah Cays Claire Chan Meera Chari Juliet Chattaway Andrew Chen Audrey Chen Joy(Jiayi) Chen Emily Cho-Sayegh Zahra Choudhri Madeline Chu Blaine Clarke Emily Colletti Sophia Cresser Anya Dalal Taylor De Vries Aarush Dey Ella Dietz Jaymin Ding Daniela Dolina Julian Du Mika Dunne Sofia Eliasi Fiona Ellis Henry Ellis julia Evans Ana Failla Blake Feinstein Ziyi Feng Sylvia Friday Charlotte Fuchs James Gallivan Greta Garcia Reese Garg Liam Garland Eva Garofalo Xiwen Gong Marnuely Gonzalez Jemma Goodman Lila Gottlieb Defne Gurer May Hakimizadeh Peter Hallock |
Maddy Harder Jemma Harmston Natalie Harrington Val He Danya Herman Evie Herman Dara Hine Averie Ho Iona Hodges Lucie Honarvar Soren Honarvar Lasya Hota Even Howell Tyler Huang Anna Huber Andi Jacobs Naomi Jeske Delilah Johnson Julia Johnson Quinn Jones Alex Kabakov Yuval Katz Harry Kaufman Tane Kim Gemma Kirt Annabel Kleinknecht Jordan Knispel Eric Kwon Alexander Lee Esther Lee Iris Lee Lauren Lee Remy Lee Serine Lee Shaye Lee Blake Levin Stacey Liew Joyce Liu Gianna Lopez Evan Lucas Olivia Luna Emma Sophie Luo Jiajun Luo Tyler Malkin Emma Mao Felix Mao Liam Maor Janelle Mascis Natalia Massie Marguerite McDonald Oona McPhearson Hannah Mehler Sachi Mehta Luca Mele Milana Melnick Jahnavi Menon Baron Miao Halle Monschein Adrian Montenegro Juliette Moore Mary Moser Jordan Moss Deniz Nalbantoglu Serra Nalbantoglu Andrew Nam Andrea Nguyen Natalie Nudelman Timothy O'Donnell Daphné Panié Allegra Paquette |
Joseph Park Ava Patino Sean Patrick-Sasaki Juliana Qiu Nittsa Rai Eleanor Raveis Isabel Ren Montserrat Reyes Noah Richer Hadley Robertson Alex Roszkowski Piper Rothman Brinda Roy Daniela Rynott Natalie Salinas Tania Samant Cristina Sanchez Megan Sargent Cara Sato-Connell Stella Savone Ethan Schamberg Sophia Schelino Carla Schober-Gonzalez James Schumacher Ananya Shah Preethika Shenoy Olivia Shim Arielle Sibley-Grice Meghan Smyth Angelina Song Alexandra Steyn Jinghan Su Jenaya Swinger Sophie Takahashi Kiron Taylor Tyler Temerowski Charlotte Thomas Katherine Thornell Genevieve Topper-Kroog Lilah Tuvlin Nkechi Ude Danye Upchurch Aadhya Vijil Madelne Walker Mica Wang Rainier Wang Sien Wang caleigh wardle Qian Wei Rhys Weismann Lucy Wellen Mallie Wilderman Emma Wolff aiden wu Tianyu Xie Naomi Yadav Coco Yanagida Yushen Yang Zoe Yau Emma Yeon Ella Yin Emily Yu Bernice Zhang Catherine Zhang Linda Zhang Xiaowen Zhou Iris Zhu Tahl Ziegler Alexandra Zummo |
Honorable Mention Recipients
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Joselyne Abzun Charlie Adams Juliana Agati Rachel Agnello Bill Aishman Jude Al-Mufti Carl albano Michelle Aldana Saffron Alfandre Caroline Almeida Michael Aloia Eli Ames Alyson Andrade Veronica Antov Emily Appleyard Natasha Arakal Bianca Arencibia Laurel Aronian Penelope Arredondo Neena Atkins Alison Auer Denisa Badea Amelia Bargas Azalia Basil Giselle Bauer Rayann Bazeley Frieda Belasco Delilah Ben-Canaan Chloe Berg Alexis Berry James Blanco Casey Blattman Juliette Blue Talia Bock lucie Bohnsack Corah Boller Lexington Boyce Analise Braddock Eric Brener Julia Broder Aria Brown Lefa Brown Sonali Browning Nat Buchalter Vivian Burnham Sophie Calger Helen Cao Jay Cao Isaac Carrillo Lily Carroll Laurel Cary Valentina Castro Olivia Chang Max Charney Gabriela Chávez Steinmetz Juliana Chavis Andrew Chen Audrey Chen Caroline Chen Iris Chen William Chen YINUO CHEN Arianna Chin Leehyun Choi Zahra Choudhri Blaine Clarke Violet Clinton Logan Cofsky Carly-Ann Cohowicz Elana Collazo Caroline Collins Paul Consorte Cecile Cooper Zoe Coric Lohanna Costa Tamsin Coulthard Lauren Crispino Pierce Crosby claire curran Ayush Dave Diana Davidson Ferdia Davies Ava Davis Maggie Dayton Aarush Dey Vidya Dhruvakumar James Ding Jaymin Ding Charlotte Doak Daniela Dolina Charlene Dong Jack Douglas Logan Dundas Olivia Dunev Tristan Ebrahimi Katharine Ellis Jerry Fan Rhea Fan Blake Feinstein Amy Feng Julia Fenigstein Anna Fiorito Lilly Fogel Clio Foley Paige Foran Charlotte Fuchs Ellie Furman Abhinav Ganesh Greta Garcia Isabella Garcia Reese Garg Layal Ghaddar Markus Giddiens Layla Giroux Jaclyn Glosserman Xiwen Gong Stewart Goodwin Max Goralski Emma Gordon Lila Gottlieb Arlo Griffith Isabella Grimm |
Gabriella Guevara Amanda Gui Cristina Gutierrez May Hakimizadeh Maya Hallac Emma Grace Harrison Conner Havens Ben Hayes Val He Penelope Hentsch-Cowles Danya Herman Evie Herman Silvana Hernandez Victoria Herold Cameron Hersly Matilda Hertzman Mary Heyn Sarah Hipwood Victoria Ho Lasya Hota Anne Huang Judith Huang Jiwon Hwang Noelle Iasillo Justin Isban Abigail Israel Niyathi Iyengar Alex Jackson Naomi Jeske Veronica Jiang Delilah Johnson Julia Johnson Quinn Jones Davina Jou Alex Kabakov Kyra Karayiannis Emily Kasoff Maren Keane Annabelle Kempler Layla Kesh-Heil Ellie Keum Adam Khan Ben Kiev Sungyun Kim Clementine Kirt Annabel Kleinknecht Addy Kline Sophia Klugherz Jordan Knispel Sadie Kolodner Akshara Kumar Brandon Kuo Olivia Kwon Holden LaForce Caitlin Lammer Avery Lanuza Alexander Lee Devin Lee Elle Lee Esther Lee Iris Lee Olivia Lee Remy Lee Samantha Lee Serine Lee Natalia Levicky Alexis Levine Audrey Li Connie Li Emma Li Nicholas Li Scarlett Li Illaria Liedtke Nathan Lionetti Sabrina Listwon Emma Liu Joyce Liu Alexa Loera Trevor Lombardo Fletch Londa Anthony Low Alex Lu Grace Lu Gabriella Luma Erika Lunenfeld Emma Sophie Luo Mickey Ma Khara Maas Olivia MacEachern Ashley Malkin Terry Mao Alana Marlow Isabel Martinez Natalia Massie Carolyn McBreen Elise McCormick Ella McCourtney Claire McInerney Mac Mcloughlin Avery Medved Jennessa Melendez Valeria Melendez Emily Meng Annie Meyer Gavin Mhley Jingzhi Miao Hannah Miller Emily Mirkin Sally Moerschen Frida Mommsen Juliette Moore Harrison Moss Lia Nacey Daniyal Naeem Deniz Nalbantoglu Serra Nalbantoglu Kristen Nemec Ellie Newton Abdallah Niass Belle Nichols Newton Niu Ambika Nott |
Eamon O'Shea Diamond-Flora Obegolu Nicole Ochoa Georgia Oneil Abby Otterstedt Madoc Owen Cloris Pan Daphné Panié Jiyoon Park Robert Park Yune Park Sean Patrick-Sasaki Lily Mei Peckham Fiona Pedraza Helena Pierry Isabela Pierry Olivia Pierry Katerin Pineda Ian Potter Shreya Prabhu Quinn Pruss Kun Qian Bo-Wen Qin Joshua Quinn Raghav Ramji Eleanor Raveis Noah Richer Clara Robbins Lucas Robinson Aitana Rodriguez Nina Rogers Abraham Rosenschein Alex Roszkowski Leo Roth Baylor Rothman Piper Rothman Ayesha Roy Brinda Roy Sophie Ruddy hellen rueter Will Rutherford Shirin Sadoughi Zahra Sadoughi Jared Saiontz Natasha Samant Adun Samson Elizabeth Sapp Derek Sauther Stella Savone Sarah Sayem Uma Scher Beatrice Schlein Callan Scott Charlotte Seymour Sophia Seymour Ananya Shah Tanner Shanley Benjamin Shao Max shapiro roman Sophia Shen Katelyn Shi Olivia Shim Thomas Shin Emily Shull Meghan Smyth Thorne Sparkman Anouk Sriskandarajah Sophia Stapleton Alexandra Steyn Jinghan Su Nia Sun Naiah Anne Therese Talatala Vick Tan Zixian Tang Kiron Taylor Jeanette Teixeira Emily Telesco Addison Tenser Katherine Thornell Brianna Timlin Cecelia Tivey Shashi Uppuluri Annabelle Vest Aadhya Vijil Aditi Vijil Caitlin Visconti Cary Wang Le Wang Mica Wang Rainier Wang caleigh wardle Lian Xi Wei Ella Weiss Lucy Wellen Liam Wellisch Kaymbri Wells Elliott Whang Gigi Wheeler Kate Wick Annika Wise Emma Wolff Alexandra Wright Grace Wu Tianyu Xie Alina Yang Emma Yeon Ella Yin Zoe Younessian Juliette Zabel Cameron Zapanta Amy Zhang Bernice Zhang Katie Zhang Rebecca Zhang Leon Zhou Xiaowen Zhou Yuhan Alice Zhou Chloe Zou Lilia Zouaoui vivienne zuwiyya |
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