June 17, 2024
A New Hartford Senior High School student received the top honor in the 2024 National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7-12.
Senior art student Claire Mitchell earned a Gold Medal Award in the national competition for her photograph “UCONN Cow.” She is the fourth New Hartford Central School District student to earn a national medal in the past 9 years.
Nearly 340,000 works of art and writing were submitted for judging at the regional level in 28 categories of art and writing. Less than 2,500 pieces received a national medal, placing Claire within the top 8 percent of all submissions. Submissions were evaluated based on originality, technical skill and personal vision.
By winning a Scholastic Art & Writing Award, Claire joins a legacy of celebrated artists and authors, including Andy Warhol, Zac Posen, Kay WalkingStick, Richard Avedon and Lena Dunham – all of whom won Scholastic Awards when they were teens.
National medal recipients are eligible for scholarship programs and workshops and their work is published and displayed in national exhibitions.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing students with exceptional artistic and literary talent.