Each year thousands of students from public, private and home schools submit works to the local affiliate of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards at Harris County Department of Education. The opportunity to compete in the nation’s longest-running, largest and most prestigious competition motivates these teenagers to produce their best work. Teens hope to join the ranks of former writing award recipients like Joyce Carol Oates, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, John Updike, Ken Burns and Stephen King. Young artists strive to mirror the accomplishments of past medalists such as Edward Sorel, Cy Twomby, Kay WalkingStick, John Baldessari, Zac Posen and Andy Warhol.

Patrick Zapien (pictured), Houston Independent School District, earned regional awards via Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition 2014 through HCDE and advanced to national acclaim as an art portfolio Gold Key medalist. Last summer he walked across Carnegie Hall in New York City to receive his $10,000 scholarship award among a select 16 national art and writing portfolio winners.

“Teens in grades 7 through 12 apply in 28 categories of art and writing. Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients. Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

Last year, students submitted 255,000 works of art and writing to the Awards; more than 68,000 were recognized at the regional level and celebrated in local exhibitions and ceremonies. The top 2,000 works in the country earned National Medals and were celebrated at a ceremony at Carnegie Hall.”

Source: http://www.artandwriting.org

Regionally, students are recognized with Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention awards. In 2014, students in Harris County earned 630 awards in writing and 957 awards in art. Total entries into the regional competition were 2,381. Regional judges are both local and national art and writing professionals who volunteer their time.

This is a wonderful and unique competition that validates youths’ art and writing and elevates their talent on a local, regional and national level. Since 1993, HCDE has relied on the invaluable volunteerism of hundreds of local educators, writing professionals and artists to help coordinate and judge entries.

For more information about entering or supporting the competition visit:
National website: http://www.artandwriting.org/
Regional Art website: http://www.artandwriting.org/affiliate/TX001A
Regional Writing website: http://www.artandwriting.org/Affiliate/TX001W
Twitter: https://twitter.com/artandwriting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScholasticArtandWritingAwards

About the Blogger:
Melba Kent is curriculum director for language arts at Harris County Department of Education. She works with schools and districts across the county to help implement effective literacy instruction for all students. Melba is a pathological runner who makes a mean pot of red beans and rice and drinks lattes excessively. She lives by the motto: “Be a New Orleanian wherever you are.”