Scholastic Art Award Winners 2024

Junior Abby Lara touched her brush against the canvas, ready to fill every inch of the blank white space with color. The first line of paint led to another and then another until the face of an older man looking off into the distance emerged against a bold yellow background. For Abby, every brushstroke was intentional to help practice the skills in her artistic toolbox.

“I created my piece with the objective of gaining a better understanding of different brushstrokes and color, as before I struggled to incorporate a fluent style and color scheme in my artwork,” Abby said of her painting, “Old Times Sake,” which was recognized with a Silver Key in this year’s Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition. “It feels great to be recognized for my work, especially for something that I am proud of and that I worked on with so much intention.”

Each year, Harpeth Hall students submit original works to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition, which for nearly a century has “inspired bold ideas in creative teens” throughout the country. Young artists can submit work in various categories to showcase their original art, with graduating seniors having the additional option of submitting a portfolio. These categories include comic art, film and animation, painting, and photography. In the 2024 awards, 23 Harpeth Hall students garnered over 30 awards.

“The Harpeth Hall art department is delighted to highlight the incredible talents of our students in the visual arts,” said Susie Elder, chair of Harpeth Hall’s visual arts department. “Whether you participate in our program, submitted for Scholastic or won one of these awards, we applaud all Harpeth Hall students for sharing your creativity with the world.”

Abby attributes her growth as an artist to the Harpeth Hall program.

“Mrs. Elder has helped me develop my own skills and improve my work since I was in middle school,” Abby said. “She encouraged me to embrace an expressive style and to bring personal meaning into my work.”

Likewise, senior Lilly Cashen, who won a Gold Key and three Silver Keys in the 2023-24 Scholastics competition, has felt encouraged throughout her time at Harpeth Hall by the art faculty.

Lilly’s Silver Key winning work, “Losing My Marbles,” was also recognized with a “Best in High School” honor at the 16th Annual Middle Tennessee Regional Art Exhibition. The piece is on display in the art gallery at Nashville’s Parthenon through March 3.

“My art teachers have helped me develop my skills and guide my art-making process,” Lilly said. “They have also helped encourage me to take opportunities like submitting to contests or doing internships.”

All of the 2024 Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art exhibition will be on display in the Cheekwood Frist Learning Center from Feb. 3 to March 10. Gold Key works will be displayed physically, Silver Key works will be displayed digitally, and students receiving Honorable Mention will be awarded a certificate. Gold Key-winning artworks will also go on to be judged in the national competition.

 

Gold Key
Lilly Cashen, 12th grade

Sara Mac Wallace, 12th grade

Kelly Aquino, 11th grade

Annamaria Bacchetta, 11th grade

Sophia Baldwin, 11th grade

Emaline Cash, 11th grade

Ellery Cook, 11th grade

Hallie Gibson, 11th grade

Addie Hardy, 10th grade

Marley Warren, 9th grade

Silver Key

Lilly Cashen, 12th grade, 3 Silver Keys

Chloe Gray, 12th grade

Anaya Singh, 12th grade

Annamaria Bacchetta, 11th grade

Mae Eads, 11th grade

Hallie Gibson, 11th grade

Abby Lara, 11th grade

Madison Goodman, 10th grade

Lilly Kapanka, 10th grade

Olivia Decastro, 9th grade

Audrey Harris, 8th grade

Honorable Mention

Sophie Hong, 9th grade

Meghan Abrams, 11th grade

Ellery Cook, 11th grade

Sophia Baldwin, 11th grade, 2 Honorable Mentions

Mae Eads, 11th grade

Catherine Tatro, 11th grade

Addie Hardy, 10th grade

Suki Junge, 10th grade

G. H., 9th grade

 

See more of our students' Scholastic Award-winning art!