Creative students win Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative students in grades 7-12. This year in regional competition organized by the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, Chesterfield County students achieved a total of four American Visions nominations, three American Voices nominations, 57 Gold Keys, 70 Silver Keys and 117 honorable mentions. Gold Key winners go on to national competition; national winners will be announced in March. Here are Chesterfield County’s 2023 regional winners:

Writing awards

Bird High

• Kyle-Joseph Springfield (teacher Steven Houston): HM in Short Story for Behind The Eyes Of The Wife

Clover Hill High

• Quyen Nguyen (teacher Jaime Barnett): Gold Key, American Voices Nominee in Poetry for Dear Grandfather

Manchester High

• Charity Dubose (teacher Rebecca Lynch): Silver Key in Dramatic Script for A Casually Suave Date
• Laci Powell (teacher Rebecca Lynch): Silver Key in Poetry for Dandelion
• Laci Powell (teacher Rebecca Lynch): Silver Key in Poetry for Canary in a Coal Mine
• Laci Powell (teacher Rebecca Lynch): HM in Poetry for Mourning Doves’ Song
• Laci Powell (teacher Rebecca Lynch): HM in Poetry for Friendship is to Flora
• Jun Cogshell (teacher Rebecca Lynch): HM in Science Fiction and Fantasy for Please Satanize Your Hands Here
• Charity Dubose (teacher Rebecca Lynch): HM in Dramatic Script for The Paper
• Jordan Myers (teacher Rebecca Lynch): HM in Poetry for Sides

Swift Creek Middle

• Katie Loeb (teacher Jennifer Berardo): Silver Key in Humor

Appomattox Regional Governor’s School

• Aaliyah Anderson: Silver Key in Poetry for Occult (Lute, Woman, Maid)
• Aaliyah Anderson: Silver Key in Poetry for Wheatgrass
• Aaliyah Anderson: Silver Key in Flash Fiction for The Workplace
• Aaliyah Anderson: HM in Poetry for fluctuation
• Renee Anderson: Gold Key, American Voices Nominee in Dramatic Script
• Renee Anderson: Gold Key in Poetry for Harm Of Performative Activism
• Renee Anderson: Gold Key in Poetry for The Girl Who Liked My Sister
• Renee Anderson: Silver Key in Writing Portfolio for Salvation Story of a Black Child
• Renee Anderson: Silver Key in Humor for The Fine Art Of Procrastination
• Renee Anderson: Silver Key in Dramatic Script for Sunday School
• Renee Anderson: HM in Dramatic Script for Valentine’s Day Plan
• Renee Anderson: HM in Poetry for Seven Days – Guitar
• Renee Anderson: HM in Personal Essay and Memoir for The Essence of Evil
• Renee Anderson: HM in Dramatic Script for WASH YOUR HANDS
• Renee Anderson: HM in Poetry for my promise to the mothers and fathers
• Serenity Bassett: Gold Key in Science Fiction and Fantasy for Welcome to Death’s Table
• Serenity Bassett: Silver Key in Short Story for Long Time No Talk
• Serenity Bassett: Silver Key in Writing Portfolio for Nexus of Failed Language
• Serenity Bassett: Silver Key in Poetry for Guardian Angel
• Serenity Bassett: Silver Key in Poetry for Our Meaning: Chocolate Santas
• Serenity Bassett: HM in Poetry for To You
• Serenity Bassett: HM in Poetry for When I Speak
• Serenity Bassett: HM in Poetry for Bonny
• Serenity Bassett: HM in Writing Portfolio for Musings on the Freedoms of Living
• Fairouz Bsharat: Silver Key in Short Story for The Grande Finale
• Fairouz Bsharat: HM in Poetry for Collection: Palestine, Land of the Forgotten and Homes Broken
• Jessica Burkett: Gold Key in Writing Portfolio for Human Connection and Other Fun Myths
• Jessica Burkett: HM in Short Story for The Inward Self
• Kyndle Fuller: Silver Key in Personal Essay and Memoir for Changing Rituals
• Kyndle Fuller: HM in Writing Portfolio for Into My Brain, Through My Writing
• Scott Langston: HM in Poetry for Storyteller
• Scott Langston: HM in Poetry for Continuum
• Isabella Lyons: Gold Key in Personal Essay and Memoir for Araw ng Kalayaan (Independence Day)
• Isabella Lyons: HM in Personal Essay and Memoir for Piper’s Princess
• Hannah Rouse: Gold Key in Poetry for Collection: an hour into the Miss Americana documentary/October 16/Love Letter to Taylor Swift
• Hannah Rouse: Gold Key in Poetry for Collection: pink dreams
• Hannah Rouse: HM in Poetry for Collection: Holding Hands in Cheap Motel Rooms
• Hannah Rouse: HM in Poetry for Sinner, Sinner, Sinner
• Collin Shiflett: Silver Key in Poetry for Suspicious Minds
• Collin Shiflett: HM in Poetry for The Songs My Old Man Sang
• Alexis Washington: Silver Key in Flash Fiction for Candles
• Alexis Washington: HM in Poetry for I still taste it

Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School

• Sydney Brewer: Gold Key, American Voices Nominee in Short Story
• Lauren Blake: Silver Key in Humor
• Aditya Badhrayan: HM in Short Story
• Ananya Gomatam: HM in Critical Essay

Art awards

Bird High

• Jada Lopez (teacher Alycia Bailey): Silver Key in Architecture and Industrial Design for Decayed Heart
• Malak Alfrookh (teacher Charles Cimo): HM in Photography for Pastel Skies
• Paola Munoz (teacher Alycia Bailey): HM in Ceramics and Glass for Spring
• Phuong Nghi Nguyen (teacher Charles Cimo): HM in Photography for Park Path
• Kathleen Rios (teacher Alycia Bailey): HM in Painting for Imposter Syndrome
• Jan Woodward (teacher Alycia Bailey): HM in Sculpture for Fancy feast
• Dayana Zarate Salguero (teacher Amber Kuper): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Sad Fire

Chesterfield Career and Technical Center

• Sera Carter (teacher Randy Burts): Silver Key in Digital Art for Comfort in Being Clean
• Bryan Aguirre (teacher Darrin Zoller): Silver Key in Photography for Hidden Eyes
• Keri Calderone (teacher Darrin Zoller): Silver Key in Photography for Dead Comfort
• Sarah Murray (teacher Randy Burts): HM in Digital Art for Statue of Weeping
• Mitchell Pearcy (teacher Randy Burts): HM in Comic Art for Acorn Baby
• Madison Stout (teacher Randy Burts): HM in Digital Art for Amarís
• Darrell Taylor (teacher Darrin Zoller): HM in Photography for Drifting

Clover Hill High

• Grace Atiwoto-Ayite (teacher Jaime Barnett): Gold Key in Digital Art for You’re Not Worthy Of Them
• Cherish Bland (teacher Amanda Berneche): Gold Key, American Visions Nominee in Photography for Cognative Dissonance
• Cherish Bland (teacher Amanda Berneche): Gold Key in Photography for A Prayer of Desperation
• Cherish Bland (teacher Amanda Berneche): Gold Key in Photography for Unearthing Identity
• Joshua Eaton (teacher Jaime Barnett): Gold Key in Digital Art for Sewing A Story
• Kyasia Hairston (teacher Jaime Barnett): Gold Key in Photography for at night
• Quyen Nguyen (teacher Jaime Barnett): Gold Key, American Visions Nominee in Digital Art for Talk to Me! (English Translation)
• Quyen Nguyen (teacher Jaime Barnett): Gold Key in Digital Art for “Where are you, Mother? (English Translation)”
• Quyen Nguyen (teacher Jaime Barnett): Gold Key in Digital Art for The Gift of the Humble Stork (English Translation)
• Quyen Nguyen (teacher Amanda Berneche): Gold Key in Film and Animation for Release (English Translation)
• Sophia Rivera (teacher Rachel Principe): Gold Key in Drawing and Illustration for London
• Grace Atiwoto-Ayite (teacher Jaime Barnett): Silver Key in Digital Art for A Child’s Shield
• Grace Atiwoto-Ayite (teacher Jaime Barnett): Silver Key in Digital Art for Family Gathering
• Cherish Bland (teacher Amanda Berneche): Silver Key in Photography for Lingering
• Jupiter Blanks (teacher Jaime Barnett): Silver Key in Digital Art for Our Past Is Not Our Future
• Susanna Ceglarz (teacher Amanda Berneche): Silver Key in Photography for I’m bored. I want my iPad.
• Samantha Kinlaw (teacher Amanda Berneche): Silver Key in Film and Animation for Smoke
• Mariet Nester (teacher Amanda Berneche): Silver Key in Photography for Can I Float Out of Existence?
• Quyen Nguyen (teacher Jaime Barnett): Silver Key in Digital Art for Let Me Go! (English Translation)
• Quyen Nguyen (teacher Jaime Barnett): Silver Key in Art Portfolio for Mother and Me
• Quyen Nguyen (teacher Jaime Barnett): Silver Key in Photography for The Imperial Dragon (English Translation)
• Dakotah Schell (teacher Rachel Principe): Silver Key in Drawing and Illustration for Indistinguishable Individuals
• Alyssa Thompson (teacher Jaime Barnett): Silver Key in Photography for Out Of The Shadows
• Megan Bolin (teacher Amanda Berneche): HM in Photography for Window to my World
• Bailey Brinson (teacher Amanda Berneche): HM in Photography for Young Blood
• Bailey Brinson (teacher Amanda Berneche): HM in Photography for I’m a Mirrorball
• Mark Connelly (teacher Amanda Berneche): HM in Film and Animation for Dreamland
• Jasmyn Contreras (teacher Jaime Barnett): HM in Digital Art for Nature’s Golden Gift
• Landon Cosner (teacher Jaime Barnett): HM in Digital Art for Beach View
• Claire Cumberbatch (teacher Amanda Berneche): HM in Film and Animation for Embers
• Lily Erbach (teacher Jaime Barnett): HM in Design for Gull-iath’s Beach House
• Bailey Grahmann (teacher Amanda Berneche): HM in Film and Animation for To Be Happy
• Audrey Hunter (teacher Rachel Principe): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Dreaming
• Addison Kleppinger-Miller (teacher Rachel Principe): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Princess of Longing
• Luri Lee (teacher Rachel Principe): HM in Drawing and Illustration for If Only…
• Imogen McMillan (teacher Rachel Principe): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Botanical Study of Field Thistle
• Celine Nghiem (teacher Rachel Principe): HM in Drawing and Illustration for blurry lines
• Quyen Nguyen (teacher Jaime Barnett): HM in Digital Art for Child of the Tiger (English Translation)
• Rohan Raman (teacher Jaime Barnett): HM in Digital Art for Twisted Masks
• Payton Smith (teacher Rachel Principe): HM in Art Portfolio for Forces of Nature

Thomas Dale High

• Arlexia Abioye (teacher Shannon Sissokho): Gold Key in Digital Art for Star girl
• Breanna Brown (teacher Lauren Cifranic): Gold Key in Drawing and Illustration for One Day
• Lily Clingempeel (teacher Lauren Cifranic): Gold Key in Mixed Media for Shades
• Jessica Davis (teacher Lauren Cifranic): Gold Key in Sculpture for Shrine of Mind
• Masey Fideli (teacher Tanya Rogish): Gold Key in Drawing and Illustration for Fire of Notre Dame
• Mattia Grazioso (teacher Lauren Cifranic): Gold Key in Digital Art for Depredation
• Hannah Thorne (teacher Lauren Cifranic): Gold Key in Painting for “I’m your fire, at your desire”
• Gabriela Iveth Vallecillo Barahona (teacher Madison Holt): Gold Key in Ceramics and Glass for Antipatharia
• Krista Broussard (teacher Lauren Cifranic): Silver Key in Painting for Reversed Roles
• Melanie Callender (teacher Tanya Rogish): Silver Key in Mixed Media for Raine
• Kalin D’Reaux-Rodgers (teacher Lauren Cifranic): Silver Key in Drawing and Illustration for Goose Goose Geese
• Mackenna Daugherty (teacher Lauren Cifranic): Silver Key in Digital Art for “Once A Clown, Always A Clown”
• Payton Miners (teacher Shannon Sissokho): Silver Key in Mixed Media for Student
• Denver Patton (teacher Shannon Sissokho): Silver Key in Photography for The Depth Of Nature
• Katherine Westfall (teacher Lauren Cifranic): Silver Key in Mixed Media for Bumps and Bruises
• Heaven Wilson (teacher Lauren Cifranic): Silver Key in Drawing and Illustration for Three-Point Perspective Environmental Drawing
• Mickey Wilson (teacher Lauren Cifranic): Silver Key in Painting for The Fool
• Breanna Brown (teacher Shannon Sissokho): HM in Drawing and Illustration for A Gift
• Thomas Brown (teacher Tanya Rogish): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Falling Waters
• Leilani Bryant (teacher Shannon Sissokho): HM in Digital Art for “Look, birth.” “Cool.”
• Sarah Collins (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Conference With The King
• Kalin D’Reaux-Rodgers (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Sculpture for George’s Toothbrush
• Jhalae Evans (teacher Tanya Rogish): HM in Mixed Media for Ascend
• Alex Ho (teacher Tanya Rogish): HM in Mixed Media for Hungry
• Emma Jennings-Barker (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Sculpture for Toxic Beauty
• Emma Jennings-Barker (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Task Paralysis
• Zoe Jurgens (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Open Wide
• Zariah Klyvert (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Digital Art for Wood Elf – Alder
• Anastasia Koukoutsi (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Unidentifiable Desires
• Skyler Kyle (teacher Tanya Rogish): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Mormon Temple
• Desiree Lamison (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Masked emotion
• Desiree Lamison (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Shattered reflection
• Laurel Schlaudt (teacher Shannon Sissokho): HM in Digital Art for Franz
• Alicia Strelow (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Film and Animation for ‘The Other Side’ animatic
• Kiara vicente (teacher Shannon Sissokho): HM in Digital Art for Owl
• Heidy Villacorta Perez (teacher Shannon Sissokho): HM in Drawing and Illustration for My Image
• Julia Wayne (teacher Shannon Sissokho): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Life of Yokai
• Katherine Westfall (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Mixed Media for Stigma
• Mickey Wilson (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Painting for Transformation
• Alexander Wolf (teacher Lauren Cifranic): HM in Digital Art for Heart Attack- Volume One Cover Page

James River High

• Maddie Allman (teacher Anne Constanzer): Gold Key in Painting for Not Myself
• Ethan Eubank (teacher Anna Gahagan): Gold Key in Digital Art for Octahedron Isometric
• Molly Gorman (teacher Anne Constanzer): Gold Key in Mixed Media for Untitled
• Xyoa Wilding (teacher Anne Constanzer): Gold Key in Painting for Sequestration
• Xyoa Wilding (teacher Anne Constanzer): Gold Key in Drawing and Illustration for Weary
• Xyoa Wilding (teacher Anne Constanzer): Gold Key in Drawing and Illustration for Soul
• Anais Wojtysiak (teacher Anne Constanzer): Gold Key in Drawing and Illustration for In Wonder
• Maddie Allman (teacher Anne Constanzer): Silver Key in Drawing and Illustration for Never Enough
• Madison Kryszon (teacher Anne Constanzer): Silver Key in Painting for Life of an Artist
• Zachary Stevens (teacher Anne Constanzer): Silver Key in Drawing and Illustration for Unlikely Friends
• Natalie White (teacher Anna Gahagan): Silver Key in Digital Art for Space Street
• Xyoa Wilding (teacher Anne Constanzer): Silver Key in Painting for Sonder
• Anais Wojtysiak (teacher Anne Constanzer): Silver Key in Printmaking for A Travel Memoir in Desserts
• Sarah Zachry (teacher Anna Gahagan): Silver Key in Digital Art for Tree Frog Calligram
• Kellian Babbage (teacher Kathryn Mayes): HM in Photography for Walking Shoes
• Elijah Bisogno (teacher Anna Gahagan): HM in Digital Art for Self Portrait
• Bridget Cash (teacher Anne Constanzer): HM in Printmaking for Hares of Time
• Molly Gorman (teacher Luke Petrey): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Bed of Roses
• Nathaniel Marshall (teacher Anna Gahagan): HM in Digital Art for Pattern Sample
• Xyoa Wilding (teacher Anne Constanzer): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Imitation
• Xyoa Wilding (teacher Anne Constanzer): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Self Portraits
• Anais Wojtysiak (teacher Anne Constanzer): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Mentality of a Figure Skater

Manchester High

• Candace Taylor (teacher Marina Mukai): Gold Key in Photography for Rebirth
• Andrew Messick (teacher Margaret Jackson): Silver Key in Ceramics and Glass for Mr. McChess
• Marissa Liles (teacher Marina Dublin): HM in Digital Art for Judgmental stares
• Johnny Nguyen (teacher Margaret Jackson): HM in Digital Art for Breathe
• Jamie Rock (teacher Margaret Jackson): HM in Digital Art for Stained Identity

Midlothian High

• Cadence Newman (teacher Elizabeth Vesely): Gold Key in Mixed Media for Frame of Mind
• Spencer Candland (teacher Mackenzie Gillespie): Silver Key in Digital Art for Silent Epiphany
• Alayna Underwood (teacher Elizabeth Vesely): Silver Key in Sculpture for Heavy Is The Head That Wears The Crown
• Isabella Wagner (teacher Christina Good): Silver Key in Drawing and Illustration for Judith
• Isabella Wagner (teacher Christina Good): Silver Key in Printmaking for Untitled
• Tiffany Bedser (teacher Christina Good): HM in Drawing and Illustration for My Body
• Tiffany Bedser (teacher Christina Good): HM in Painting for Red Painting
• Ava Craft (teacher Christina Good): HM in Sculpture for Ripple
• Isabel Kern (teacher Elizabeth Vesely): HM in Sculpture for Floating Faces
• Jessica Percy (teacher Elizabeth Vesely): HM in Mixed Media for Woven Basket
• Jenan Qasem (teacher Mackenzie Gillespie): HM in Mixed Media for Peace Sign to Freedom
• Isabella Wagner (teacher Christina Good): HM in Printmaking for Once in a lifetime

Monacan High

• Hazel Boone (teacher Meg Murtagh): Silver Key in Drawing and Illustration for Facing the Day
• Isla Marr (teacher Meg Murtagh): Silver Key in Mixed Media for Halloween Begins in July
• Lautaro Lo Prete (teacher Celeste Johnston): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Botanical Illustration: Hibiscus syracus
• Lautaro Lo Prete (teacher Melinda Carson): HM in Architecture and Industrial Design for My Invented Cathedral Under A Common Raven
• Lautaro Lo Prete (teacher Melinda Carson): HM in Mixed Media for Pysanky Egg
• Lautaro Lo Prete (teacher Melinda Carson): HM in Photography for Stalking Sanderling

Robious Middle

• Tiffany Chen (teacher Lisa Conner): Gold Key in Drawing and Illustration for Death Moth
• Gwen Dodson (teacher Lisa Conner): Gold Key in Photography for Karma Glow
• Abigal Papcun (teacher Lisa Conner): Gold Key in Painting for Sky Muffin
• Felix Salisbury (teacher Lisa Conner): Gold Key in Photography for Ross Light
• Heath Bulluck (teacher Lisa Conner): Silver Key in Photography for Bodi
• Jacob Clavier (teacher Lisa Conner): Silver Key in Photography for DJ Black
• Ross Staples (teacher Lisa Conner): Silver Key in Photography for Tristan Hands
• Tehreem Arshad (teacher Lisa Conner): HM in Painting for Untitled
• Courtney Green (teacher Natalie Puccia): HM in Painting for Gaze
• Emerson Knight (teacher Lisa Conner): HM in Photography for Sarah Times Three
• Dylan Lowe (teacher Lisa Conner): HM in Photography for Heath Thinking
• Tristan Weinland (teacher Lisa Conner): HM in Photography for Confined

Swift Creek Middle

• Anita Moeun (teacher Sheila Donahue): HM in Drawing and Illustration for Ocean Rising

Appomattox Regional Governor’s School

• Jordan Beaty (teacher David Bartlett): Gold Key, American Visions Nominee in Comic Art for Leftover (Sneak Peek)
• Jordan Beaty (teacher David Bartlett): HM in Comic Art for The Shopping Cart Test
• Payton deBruler (teacher Susann Whittier): Gold Key in Printmaking for Tunnel Vision
• Payton deBruler (teacher Susann Whittier): Gold Key in Painting for Cheetah
• Payton deBruler (teacher Susann Whittier): Gold Key in Painting for Planck Star
• Payton deBruler (teacher Susann Whittier): Gold Key in Painting for Stress has Resorted to Plaque
• Payton deBruler (teacher Susann Whittier): Gold Key in Painting for Singularity
• Payton deBruler (teacher Patricia Lyons): Silver Key in Painting for Spaghettification
• Payton deBruler (teacher Susann Whittier): Silver Key in Painting for Fifteen
• Payton deBruler (teacher Susann Whittier): HM in Painting for Jie
• Payton deBruler (teacher Susann Whittier): HM in Painting for Zoom Class
• Payton deBruler (teacher Susann Whittier): HM in Painting for The Aftermath
• Payton deBruler (teacher David Bartlett): HM in Art Portfolio for Event Horizon
• Tanner Kelly (teacher David Bartlett): Gold Key in Drawing and Illustration for Why Not Me
• Tanner Kelly (teacher Susann Whittier): Silver Key in Sculpture for Peaceful Death
• Katherine Lavender (teacher David Bartlett): Gold Key in Sculpture for I Have a Question
• Isabel Perez Marrero (teacher Patricia Lyons): Silver Key in Sculpture for Music Box
• Isabel Perez Marrero (teacher David Bartlett): Silver Key in Painting for Head in the Clouds
• Isabel Perez Marrero (teacher David Bartlett): HM in Mixed Media for That’s Mine
• Isabela Strel (teacher Susann Whittier): Silver Key in Fashion for PUNCTURED
• Isabela Strel (teacher Susann Whittier): Silver Key in Sculpture for Parasomnia
• Isabela Strel (teacher Susann Whittier): HM in Fashion for PUNCTURED
• Alex Waitkus (teacher David Bartlett): Gold Key in Painting for Saturday’s Table
• Alex Waitkus (teacher David Bartlett): Silver Key in Painting for Girl at the Beach

Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School

• Ananthu Anish (teacher Delanie Utterback): Silver Key in Drawing and Illustration for Strange Light
• Kori Benjamin (teacher Jeff Hall): Gold Key, American Visions Nominee in Drawing and Illustration for Girls with Guns
• Kori Benjamin (teacher Jeff Hall): Gold Key in Painting for June
• Kori Benjamin (teacher Jeff Hall): HM in Art Portfolio for Ignorance is Bliss
• Charlie Goodman (teacher Georgianne Stinnett): Gold Key in Photography for Mollusk in a Swing
• Isabella List (teacher Jeff Hall): Gold Key in Painting for Blinding
• Mercedes Luna (teacher Delanie Utterback): Gold Key in Printmaking for Corporate Clown
• Mercedes Luna (teacher Jeff Hall): Gold Key in Drawing and Illustration for Self Portrait
• Ryan Marks (teacher Georgianne Stinnett): HM in Photography for Zip
• Mattias Parandeh (teacher Georgianne Stinnett): HM in Photography for I Can’t Even Recognize You
• Sibi Sundar (teacher Georgianne Stinnett): HM in Photography for Lonely Chairs