The arts are part of what makes us human—our need to give voice in some form to perspective and experience.
Bonus: Your creativity can also help you pay for college through scholarships.
So if you’re a creative high school student who loves expressing yourself through writing or art, you might have what it takes to win national recognition and scholarships through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards!
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for teen artists and writers in the U.S. Past winners include creative icons like Sylvia Plath, Andy Warhol, Stephen King, and Amanda Gorman.
How do you enter the competition? What can you do with the award? How much are the scholarships worth?
We’ll dive into all of that below—from how to submit your work to what winning could mean for your future.
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(click to skip ahead)What are the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards?
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are among the most well-known and respected programs for young creatives in the United States. Since 1923, these awards have recognized and celebrated the work of middle and high school students passionate about expressing themselves through art and writing.
Whether you’re into poetry, painting, photography, or digital media, there’s a category for you to showcase your talent.
Here’s how it works:
Students compete first in their local regions, where they can earn Honorable Mentions, Silver Keys, or the prestigious Gold Keys.
If your work wins a Gold Key, it moves to the national level, where a panel of respected artists and writers evaluates it.
From there, you could earn a National Medal, scholarship money, or even have your work exhibited or published.
How to enter the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Entering the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is a straightforward process, but it’s important to pay attention to the details to give yourself the best chance of success. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
1. Check your eligibility
The awards are open to students in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) who attend school in the U.S. or U.S. territories. Homeschooled students and those in American schools abroad can also apply.
2. Choose your category
The competition features 28 categories, covering both writing (poetry, short stories, personal essays, journalism, and more) and visual art (painting, photography, sculpture, digital art, and more).
You can enter as many categories as you want and submit multiple pieces.
View a complete list of the categories here.
3. Create an account and submit your work
Next, go to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards website and create a student account. Once registered, you’ll upload your work and provide the required details, such as titles, descriptions, and artist/writer statements if needed.
4. Pay the submission fee (or apply for a waiver)
There is a small fee per entry: $10 per individual submission and $30 per portfolio. Students who need financial assistance can also receive a fee waiver.
5. Wait for judging results
Your work will first be judged at the regional level. If your work earns a Gold Key, it advances to national judging.
National winners receive Gold or Silver Medals, scholarships, and possible publication or exhibition opportunities. Some students are also invited to a national awards ceremony in New York City.
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards application timeline
The deadlines for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards vary by region. But here’s a typical application timeline:
September – December: Submissions open.
January – February: Regional winners are announced. Gold Key recipients advance to national judging.
March: National winners are announced, and awards are distributed.
June – August: National Medalists may have their work exhibited, published, or recognized at a national ceremony.
Check the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards website each year to confirm the exact dates for your region.
What kinds of scholarships are available through Scholastic?
Winning a Scholastic Art & Writing Award can also lead to scholarships that support your creative journey.
Here are the currently available scholarship opportunities.
American Voices & Visions Award
This $500 scholarship recognizes outstanding creative work from each region in any category of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The award honors originality, skill, and a strong personal voice.
The Flaunt It Award
This $2,000 scholarship celebrates teens who embrace what makes them unique and share their personal stories through art or writing. Sponsored by Don’t Hide It, Flaunt It (DHIFI, Inc.), RBC Foundation USA, Morgan Stanley, and HP, the award encourages self-expression and diversity. Winning educators also receive a $500 cash award.
The Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon
This $2,000 scholarship, funded by The Herb Block Foundation, recognizes three students whose editorial cartoon art provides commentary on current events, social issues, or political topics.
New York Life Award
Funded by the New York Life Foundation, this scholarship provides $2,500 in scholarships or travel stipends to ten students whose work explores death, grief, and personal loss.
Portfolio Scholarships
The Portfolio Awards offer $12,500 scholarships to Gold Medal Portfolio winners and $2,000 scholarships to Silver Medal Portfolio winners. Graduating seniors can submit a collection of six works in the Art Portfolio or Writing Portfolio categories. Each submission must include:
An artist or writer statement (100–500 words)
A personal statement (100–500 words)
Best-in-Grade Award
Sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Best-in-Grade Award honors 24 students at the national level (two in art and two in writing per grade, grades 7–12) with $500 scholarships.
Summer Scholarships
The Scholastic Awards Summer (SAS) Scholarship Program provides full-tuition scholarships for recognized Scholastic Art & Writing Awards winners to attend summer art or writing programs. Instead of applying to a specific program, students apply for an SAS scholarship, and Scholastic works with partner programs to match recipients based on availability, location, and interests.
Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Before you can compete at the national level, your work first goes through the Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Every entry is automatically placed into a regional competition based on your school’s location, where it’s judged by local artists, writers, and educators.
At this stage, your work is evaluated on originality, technical skill, and the strength of your personal voice. You can earn one of several honors:
Gold Key: The highest regional award for the best work in each category. Gold Key winners move on to national judging.
Silver Key: A strong honor recognizing exceptional work.
Honorable Mention: An award for pieces that show promise and creativity.
American Voices and American Visions Nominee: A special distinction and award opportunity for select students whose work stands out among all submissions.
Winning at the regional level is also a big deal! Many regions host exhibits, award ceremonies, and publications to showcase students’ work.
Even if you don’t advance to nationals, receiving a Gold or Silver Key is an impressive achievement that can boost the competitiveness of your college applications.
Scholastic Exhibitions
One of the most exciting parts of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the chance to see your work on display in exhibitions across the country. Whether your piece is showcased in your region, New York City, or museums nationwide, these exhibitions celebrate your creativity and give your work the audience it deserves.
Every year, select national winners have their work featured in the National Exhibition, a major showcase in New York City. Past exhibitions have been hosted at Scholastic Headquarters, Affirmation Arts, The New School, and Pratt Institute, with hundreds of incredible pieces on display.
Select works from the National Exhibition are chosen for traveling showcases in top museums and institutions, such as the Warhol Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and even the U.S. Department of Education.
Scholastic Awards FAQ
Are the Scholastic Awards considered prestigious?
Yes! The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious creative recognition program for teens in the U.S. Past winners include Sylvia Plath, Andy Warhol, and Stephen King.
When are the Scholastic winners announced?
Regional winners are announced between January and March, while national winners are revealed in March or early April. National Medalists may also be invited to a special award ceremony in New York City in June.
Can winning a Scholastic Award help with college applications?
Yep! Winning a Scholastic Art & Writing Award (especially a Gold Key or National Medal) demonstrates talent, dedication, and creativity, which can strengthen your college applications. For example, you might mention the award in your activities list or honors section to highlight your achievements or potentially discuss it (and show what values it illustrates plus what insights you’ve gained through art) in your personal statement or supplemental essays.
Final thoughts
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are a fantastic opportunity for young creatives to gain recognition, scholarships, and a platform for their work.
If you’re a middle or high school student who loves writing, art, or both, then this competition could be your chance to get your work seen by professionals and celebrated at a national level.
These awards can also help boost your college applications by showing admissions officers that you’re a dedicated, accomplished, and recognized creative talent.
For more tips on how to win scholarships and boost the competitiveness of your college applications, check out these resources next:
Ameer Drane is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college admissions and career development. Prior to freelancing, Ameer worked for three years as a college admissions consultant at a Hong Kong-based education center, helping local high school students prepare and apply for top colleges and universities in the US. He has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from UCLA. When he’s not working, Ameer loves traveling, weight lifting, writing, reading, and learning foreign languages. He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Top values: Growth / Diversity / Empathy
