Congratulations to our talented Viewpoint artists and writers, who received top honors in the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, a national competition recognizing outstanding student creativity in visual arts and writing. This year, Viewpoint students earned a total of 62 regional awards across photography, ceramics, sculpture, drawing and painting, and writing.

In the Scholastic Writing Awards, nine Upper School and two Middle School students were recognized, earning multiple Gold Keys, Silver Keys, and Honorable Mentions across categories including poetry, short story, flash fiction, and screenwriting.

In the visual arts, Viewpoint students earned a total of 43 regional awards. Notably, freshman Madison Kim ’29 received an impressive 10 awards across multiple disciplines, including several Gold Keys in drawing and painting.

Across both writing and visual arts, Gold Key recipients will advance to the national level for final judging, with results announced on March 25. National Medalists will be honored at a special ceremony in New York City in June.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our students honored in the Scholastic Art Awards across such a wide range of classes,” said Nell Yates, Visual Arts Department Chair. “It really reflects the energy, curiosity, and creativity that’s happening throughout our programs.”

Established in 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the nation’s most prestigious recognition program for student artists and writers in Grades 7-12. Alumni include renowned artists like Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, and John Baldessari, as well as acclaimed writers, filmmakers, and actors such as Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Ken Burns, and Lena Dunham. 

Each year, the competition grants more than $1 million in scholarships and prizes to young creatives.

Congratulations to this year’s Viewpoint Scholastic Art & Writing Award winners!

Gold Key Winners

Taiyang Dragon Chang ’30 – Poetry
Yanxi Nicky Li ’28 – Poetry
Daphne Huffman ’26 – Poetry; Screenplays & Scripts
Tanner Tyminski ’26 – Photography
Anna Lee ’26 – Photography
Shane Anderson ’27 – Photography
Nofar Tsvi ’26 – Photography
Ryder Kabakoff ’27 – Photography
Xinji Ding ’27 – Drawing and Painting
Madison Kim ’29 – Drawing and Painting (multiple works)

Silver Key Winners

Ella Mizrahi ’30 – Poetry
Lara AlSaadi ’29 – Poetry
Phoebe Donlon ’28 – Poetry
Kyle Martin ’27 – Short Story
Emjay Peck ’26 – Photography
Collen Altmann ’26 – Photography
Anna Lee ’26 – Photography
Ella Haim ’27 – Ceramics
Madison Kim ’29 – Ceramics
Allison Kim ’26 – Drawing and Painting
Riley Brown ’26 – Poetry, Short Story, Plays & Scripts

Honorable Mention Winners

Alex Darway ’29 – Poetry (2x)
Phoebe Donlon ’28 – Poetry
Ella Haim ’27 – Short Story
Luna Kuhn ’26 – Flash Fiction
Daphne Huffman ’26 – Poetry and Short Story
Hudson Furgatch ’26 – Photography (2x)
Collen Altmann ’26 – Photography (2x)
Casey Bernstein ’26 – Photography
Chace Garner ’26 – Photography
Sebastian Safahi ’26 – Photography
Mishka Rathi ’26 – Photography (2x)
Evelyn Wright ’26 – Photography (3x)
Sebastian Yanez ’26 – Photography (3x)
Ryder Kabakoff ’27 – Photography
Lucas Argano-Rush ’27 – Ceramics
Sadie Kieffer ’26 – Sculpture
Xinji Ding ’27 – Drawing and Painting
Leah Lekht ’26 – Drawing and Painting
Noah Oduwole ’26 – Drawing and Painting
Riley Brown ’26 – Plays & Scripts