About the Program
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s largest, longest-running, and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for middle and high school artists and writers. Since 1923, the Awards have recognized teenagers from across the country. By receiving a Scholastic Art & Writing Award, our students join a legacy of celebrated authors and artists such as Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Stephen King, Robert Redford, and Ezra Jack Keats.
The Alabama Awards Program received more than 300 submissions in 11 categories from students across the state of Alabama. On July 2, 2020, 135 awards were presented at the Alabama Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Program during the Gulf Coast Conference on the Teaching of Writing, in 3 award levels: Gold Key (the very best works submitted to local programs); Silver Key (stand-out works submitted to local programs that demonstrate exceptional ability); and Honorable Mention (accomplished works submitted to local programs showing great skill and potential).
The Wiregrass Writing Project, Troy University, is pleased to present the 2020 Alabama Art & Writing Awards online exhibit. This exhibition features the awards given in each category and a selection of works for your reading enjoyment.
To learn more about the Alabama Scholastic Art & Writing Awards contact us at http://artandwriting.org or 334-670-5978.
Message from the Executive Director of the Alliance of Young Artist and Writers
2020 Alabama Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Gold Key
Author: Ross Carley
Work Title: The Wolf of Wittenberg
School: St Paul's Episcopal School
Grade: 12
Educator: Karen Duren
Author: Chloe Duren
Work Title: Arming Teachers: A Fatal Solution
School: Murphy High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Ashley Cauley
Silver Key 
Author: David Borasino
Work Title: Why You Should Drive an Electric Car
School: Altamont School
Grade: 7
Educator: Dan Carsen
Gold Key
Author: Brianna Bramlett
Work Title: A Silent Mind
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Sophia Graham
Work Title: Letters
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Silver Key
Author: Maggie Brown
Work Title: End of Days
School: Bob Jones High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Brandy Panagos
Author: Erin Riley
Work Title: Excerpt from The Watchmaker
School: Pelham High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Connie Nolen
Author: Emma Wang
Work Title: Death of Democracy
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 12
Educator: Cal Woodruff
Honorable Mention
Author: Ariana Brown
Work Title: iGIRL
School: Lee High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Michelle Sisson
Gold Key
Author: Nya McClain
Work Title: The Legend of Owhiro Bay
School: Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Kwan White
Silver Key
Author: Tatum Kelley
Work Title: The Ants Go Marching
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 9
Educator: Neil Barrett
Author: William Ledbetter
Work Title: Into the Dark
School: Homewood High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Amy Marchino
Honorable Mention
Author: Bentleigh Collum
Work Title: The Deep Thoughts In Her Mind
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Yilan Hu
Work Title: Librarian
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 10
Educator: James Griffin
Author: Hannah Ziglar
Work Title: Rising
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Jake Huggins
Honorable Mention
Author: David Boshell
Work Title: Brass Monkey
School: St Paul's Episcopal School
Grade: 12
Educator: Karen Duren
Author: Ellen Davis
Work Title: Me: On TV
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Silver Key
Author: Tess Gentile
Work Title: Are Humans Creating Mass Extinction
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Molly Malone
Work Title: Listen to Women
School: Gulf Shores High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Courtney Blake
Author: Madison Tucker
Work Title: Do All Great Leaders Need to Be Extroverts
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Honorable Mention
Author: Akshay Gaddamanugu
Work Title: The Downfall of Nascar in America
School: Altamont School
Grade: 7
Educator: Dan Carsen
Gold Key
Author: Serene Almehmi
Work Title: The Morning
School: Vestavia Hills High School
Grade: 10
Educator: Ben Davis
Silver Key
Author: Gabriella Brown
Work Title: Divided Worlds
School: Cullman High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Jill Bishop-Hollis
Author: Chloe Wilson
Work Title: The Price of War
Grade: 8
Educator: Kim Wilson
Gold Key
Author: Margo Araoz
Work Title: An Open Letter to Our Politicians
School: Homewood High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Carolyn Warren
Author: Lorelei Bachuss
Work Title: All for You
School: Austin High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Beth Bachuss
Author: Lorelei Bachuss
Work Title: A Note From Me to You
School: Austin High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Beth Bachuss
Author: Ariana Brown
Work Title: Soulful Sound, Femme Forte, Dress Code Violations Kill More Boys than Guns Do
School: Lee High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Michelle Sisson
Author: Ariana Brown
Work Title: They Say I'm Too Old For Imaginary Friends, The Skill of the Silent Crier, Salt Lamps
in Old Apartments, Thrill Rides
School: Lee High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Michelle Sisson
Author: Edison Dao
Work Title: Why? Oh, Why? Where is The Love?
School: Foley Middle School
Grade: 8
Educator: Brandy Weems
Author: Will Goodloe
Work Title: My Home Away From Home
School: St Paul's Episcopal School
Grade: 12
Educator: Karen Duren
Author: Sophia Graham
Work Title: Glass Box
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Molly Malone
Work Title: Enough is Enough
School: Gulf Shores High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Courtney Blake
Author: Scout Owen
Work Title: What I'd Give
School: Pelham High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Connie Nolen
Author: Scout Owen
Work Title: This Is Where I Belong
School: Pelham High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Connie Nolen
Author: Scout Owen
Work Title: Another Life
School: Pelham High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Connie Nolen
Author: Scout Owen
Work Title: You
School: Pelham High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Connie Nolen
Author: Surina Prabhu
Work Title: The Nature of Things
School: Altamont School
Grade: 12
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Erin Riley
Work Title: Empty Funerals For Forgotten Strangers
School: Pelham High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Connie Nolen
Author: Erin Riley
Work Title: A Single Teenager's Lament
School: Pelham High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Connie Nolen
Author: Lauren Rogers
Work Title: Shoes
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Claudia Williams
Work Title: Arlington
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Raley Woodall
Work Title: For my People
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Jake Huggins
Silver Key
Author: Serene Almehmi
Work Title: Fountain
School: Vestavia Hills High School
Grade: 10
Educator: Ben Davis
Author: Margo Araoz
Work Title: peace juice
School: Homewood High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Amy Marchino
Author: Lorelei Bachuss
Work Title: The Meaning of Was
School: Austin High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Beth Bachuss
Author: Lilly Dyson
Work Title: The Gardener
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Gabrielle Griffin
Work Title: Wet Paint
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Anmol Guard
Work Title: Presiding Authority
School: Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Roger Burdette
Author: Katherine Jackson
Work Title: Poetry
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Finn Leonard
Work Title: iPhone Xr
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Gregory Li
Work Title: Blindly Seeing
School: Alabama School Math & Science
Grade: 11
Educator: Karen Smith
Author: Bryan McNeal
Work Title: Bent_Boy_Palm_Milk_Butter_Honey_Rough_Temple
School: Huntsville High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Amy Bishop
Author: Bryan McNeal
Work Title: Assotto_Sapphire_Langston_Hansberry_Audre
School: Huntsville High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Amy Bishop
Author: George Merrell
Work Title: Darkness
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Lily Miller
Work Title: Girls
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Sofia Monteleone
Work Title: Checkbox Me
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 10
Educator: D'Anthony Allen
Author: Samantha Morgan
Work Title: Composition of My Depression
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 10
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Scout Owen
Work Title: This World
School: Pelham High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Connie Nolen
Author: Deven Patel
Work Title: Brown Rice
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 12
Educator: D'Anthony Allen
Author: Lequinn Pettway
Work Title: Something_A Cluster of Little Nothing
School: W P Davidson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Charlotte Griffin
Author: Taleah Sadler
Work Title: Don’t Hide
School: Cullman High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Jennifer Calahan
Author: Margaret Schedler
Work Title: When I Close My Eyes
School: Altamont School
Grade: 9
Educator: Larry McCain
Author: Margaret Schedler
Work Title: Melpomene
School: Altamont School
Grade: 9
Educator: Larry McCain
Author: Margaret Schedler
Work Title: Dandelions
School: Altamont School
Grade: 9
Educator: Larry McCain
Author: Anushka Sikdar
Work Title: The Still Tragedy
School: Alabama School Math & Science
Grade: 10
Educator: Daniel Commander
Honorable Mention
Author: Cromwell Estes
Work Title: Grandma
School: Mountain Brook Junior High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Ruth Beenken
Author: Fenny Gauntt
Work Title: The Princess of the Masked
School: Homewood High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Amy Marchino
Author: Sydney Glazner
Work Title: The Feelings Of Anxiety
School: Homewood High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Amy Marchino
Author: Constance Hu
Work Title: Secrets from the People
School: Bob Jones High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Brandy Panagos
Author: Anay Jeronimo
Work Title: Always and Forever
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Eleanor Lee
Work Title: Sing Girl, Sing!
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 11
Educator: D'Anthony Allen
Author: Gregory Li
Work Title: Falls
School: Alabama School Math & Science
Grade: 11
Educator: Karen Smith
Author: Gregory Li
Work Title: To Bed; Broken Leads
School: Alabama School Math & Science
Grade: 11
Educator: Karen Smith
Author: Gregory Li
Work Title: Life in Mathematics
School: Alabama School Math & Science
Grade: 11
Educator: Karen Smith
Author: Ayana Lomax
Work Title: Ayana's Work
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Addison Lusco
Work Title: Ordinary Grace
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 10
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Aja Mack
Work Title: The New Me
School: Homewood High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Amy Marchino
Author: Mary-Paige McDonald
Work Title: "Wings", "Liquid Courage"
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Sofia Monteleone
Work Title: Fallwater
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 10
Educator: D'Anthony Allen
Author: Sofia Monteleone
Work Title: Insatiable Us
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 10
Educator: D'Anthony Allen
Author: Surina Prabhu
Work Title: Daggers
School: Altamont School
Grade: 12
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Erin Riley
Work Title: Sugar Coated Tragedy
School: Pelham High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Connie Nolen
Author: Margaret Schedler
Work Title: Lucid
School: Altamont School
Grade: 9
Educator: Larry McCain
Author: Anushka Sikdar
Work Title: Force of Nature
School: Alabama School Math & Science
Grade: 10
Educator: Daniel Commander
Author: Keegan Thrasher
Work Title: Life Is Plentiful, with Exceptions
School: Altamont School
Grade: 7
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Karli Wheeler
Work Title: Period
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Gold Key
Author: Ross Carley
Work Title: The Little Guy
School: St Paul's Episcopal School
Grade: 12
Educator: Karen Duren
Author: Isobel Crumb
Work Title: The Pigs
School: St Paul's Episcopal School
Grade: 12
Educator: Karen Duren
Author: Patrick Caden Grider
Work Title: How a Poem Shaped my Perspective on Civic Engagement
School: Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School
Grade: 12
Educator: Teressa Bruce
Author: Yilan Hu
Work Title: Finding Larkin
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 10
Educator: James Griffin
Author: Hanna Sha
Work Title: Reflection
School: Vestavia Hills High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Michael Sinnott
Silver Key
Author: George Breeden
Work Title: Snapchat Diplomat
School: Homewood High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Amy Marchino
Author: Molly Frohsin
Work Title: The Difference Between a Summer in Mississippi and Japan
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 12
Educator: Cal Woodruff
Author: Julia Goldberg
Work Title: At the Wall
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 12
Educator: James Griffin
Author: Alyssa Keaton
Work Title: In The Spotlight
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Wieu Kuot
Work Title: My Name
School: St Paul's Episcopal School
Grade: 12
Educator: Karen Duren
Author: Nya McClain
Work Title: The Soapbox
School: Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Kwan White
Author: Taylor Nicks
Work Title: Safe And Happy
School: St Paul's Episcopal School
Grade: 12
Educator: Karen Duren
Author: Hanna Sha
Work Title: Reflection
School: Vestavia Hills High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Michael Sinnott
Author: Grace Sullivan
Work Title: Five-Year-Old Feminist
School: Alabama School Of Fine Arts
Grade: 11
Educator: Kwoya Maples
Author: Britton Wade
Work Title: The Talent Show
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Emma Wang
Work Title: Untitled
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 12
Educator: Cal Woodruff
Author: Emma Wang
Work Title: Flight of Icarus
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 12
Educator: Cal Woodruff
Honorable Mention
Author: Chloe Duren
Work Title: (Not?) God's Work
School: Murphy High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Ashley Cauley
Author: Cromwell Estes
Work Title: The Rabbit to the Lion
School: Mountain Brook Junior High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Ruth Beenken
Author: Landon Rawlins
Work Title: Error
School: St Paul's Episcopal School
Grade: 12
Educator: Karen Duren
Silver Key
Author: Ariana Brown
Work Title: The Twins of the Prison Planet
School: Lee High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Michelle Sisson
Author: Bryanna Brown
Work Title: Halfling
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Amy Hudson
Work Title: The Last Good Night
School: Mountain Brook High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Denise Trimm
Author: Nathan Kipchumba
Work Title: Tale of Tragedy
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Jake Huggins
Gold Key
Author: Serene Almehmi
Work Title: Sweden
School: Vestavia Hills High School
Grade: 10
Educator: Ben Davis
Author: Sarah Barze
Work Title: Shedding the Pain
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Margarette Berdy
Work Title: A Racket's Recollections
School: Altamont School
Grade: 7
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Lucine Carsen
Work Title: American Dreams
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Katie Chimento
Work Title: Beneath The Surface
School: Pelham High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Connie Nolen
Author: Mason Coleman
Work Title: Best Served Cold
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Parker Denson
Work Title: The Abyss
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Cromwell Estes
Work Title: The Spring Blooms
School: Mountain Brook Junior High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Ruth Beenken
Author: Sophia Graham
Work Title: Hairband
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Sophia Graham
Work Title: Caved
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Grace Jeong
Work Title: The Greens of Grass
School: Northridge High School
Grade: 10
Educator: Lauren Smith
Author: Jinwoo Jeong
Work Title: Cocoon-S
School: Northridge Middle
Grade: 8
Educator: Jamie Thomas
Author: Emma Kirkpatrick
Work Title: Reagan
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Nya McClain
Work Title: Rest for the Wicked
School: Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Kwan White
Author: Yiyang Yan
Work Title: Regrets, Struggles, and Misinterpretation
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 11
Educator: Cal Woodruff
Silver Key
Author: Ariana Brown
Work Title: She Doesn't Just Dance
School: Lee High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Michelle Sisson
Author: Jonathan Carranza
Work Title: Late Night Drive
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Jake Huggins
Author: Cromwell Estes
Work Title: The Golden Coins
School: Mountain Brook Junior High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Ruth Beenken
Author: Helen Ezelle
Work Title: Empty
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Patrick Caden Grider
Work Title: A Good Young Man
School: Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School
Grade: 12
Educator: Teressa Bruce
Author: Stella Linde
Work Title: The World Underneath Me
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Will Lisenby
Work Title: The House
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Olivier Maloney
Work Title: My End
School: Altamont School
Grade: 7
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Caileigh Moose
Work Title: Lost In the System
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Shaams Nur
Work Title: Schism
School: Hoover High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Kevin Zhen
Author: Surina Prabhu
Work Title: Euphoria: An Explanation
School: Altamont School
Grade: 12
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Emma Wang
Work Title: Elisabeth
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 12
Educator: Cal Woodruff
Honorable Mention
Author: Yilan Hu
Work Title: A Bird, A Bookstore, and A Box
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 10
Educator: James Griffin
Author: Liam McNeil
Work Title: Ax
School: Altamont School
Grade: 8
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Mary Hannah McPhail-Edwards
Work Title: Beatrice's House
School: Calera High School
Grade: 11
Educator: Lee Ann McPhail
Author: Michael Schmalz
Work Title: Happy and Sad Tears
School: Altamont School
Grade: 7
Educator: Dan Carsen
Author: Ariana Brown
Work Title: Works of a Wandering Mind
School: Lee High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Michelle Sisson
Author: Patrick Caden Grider
Work Title: Caden Grider - writing portfolio
School: Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School
Grade: 12
Educator: Teressa Bruce
Author: Pete Marvin
Work Title: Summer Nights in the Country
School: Pelham High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Connie Nolen
Author: Emma Wang
Work Title: Xingfu, Or, the Untranslatable Happiness
School: Indian Springs School
Grade: 12
Educator: Cal Woodruff
Author: Ariana Brown
Work Title: They Say I’m Too Old for Imaginary Friends
Category: Poetry
School: Lee High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Michelle Sisson
Author: Cromwell Estes
Work Title: The Spring Blooms
Category: Short Story
School: Mountain Brook High School
Grade: 9
Educator: Ruth Beenken
Author: Patrick Caden Grider
Work Title: How a Poem Shaped my Perspective on Civic Engagement
Category: Personal Essay & Memoir
School: Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School
Grade: 12
Educator: Teressa Bruce
Author: Nya McClain
Work Title: The Legend of Owhiro Bay
Category: Flash Fiction
School: Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Kwan White
Author: Raley Woodall
Work Title: For my People
Category: Poetry
School: Thompson High School
Grade: 12
Educator: Jake Huggins