


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