Five Fayetteville-Manlius School District students were recently named National Medalists in the 2022 National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12.
More than 260,000 works of art and writing were submitted for judging at the regional level through local affiliates of the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers Alliance. Students could enter work in 28 categories, including drawing and illustration, photography, flash fiction, poetry, film and animation, journalism and more. Jurors evaluated the submissions based on originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.
The following F-M students were named National Medalists:
- F-M High School senior Jennifer Dong received a Gold Medal for her piece “Studio” submitted in the Digital Art category.
- F-M High School junior Anna Fontaine received a Gold Medal for her piece “Global Warming” in the Editorial Cartoon category. She also received a Silver Medal in the same category for her piece “Abortion Ban in Texas.”
- Eighth-grade Wellwood Middle School student Octavia Miller received a Silver Medal for her piece “Perfect Petals” submitted in the Mosaic category.
- F-M High School senior Aum Patel received a Gold Medal for his submission “Peace” in the Photography category.
- F-M High School senior Laura Scalzetti received a Gold Medal and American Vision Award (Best of Show) for her work titled “Liminal Reflections” in the Painting category.
Students who received Gold Key and American Visions awards will be honored during a June 9 ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and selections from the National Medalists’ work are featured in exhibitions in New York City, Washington, D.C. and throughout the country.
Jennifer Dong, Gold Medal, “Studio”
