Two McMinnville High School (MHS) students earned top honors in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards regional competition. Senior McKenna Suarez (Roebuckstag
) and junior Zelmira Vindas (Self love=war) both won a Gold Key designation in Digital Art and Mixed Media and both pieces will advance to the national competition in New York City later this spring.
Suarez also earned a Silver Key for her piece “My Fire” and Vindas earned an Honorable Mention for her “Multi-Faced Self.”
“The Scholastic awards are one of the most prestigious recognition programs in the country,” said MHS art teacher Christine Garrison. “Our regional competition grew from 1,200 entries last year to an impressive pool of 7,000 this year, which makes all our students’ awards even more notable.”
MHS students honored in the competition include:
Gold Key
McKenna Suarez (Roebuckstag)
Zelmira Vindas (Self love=war)
Silver Key
Elijah Crowder (Hear my beat)
Benjamin Keikkala (Sam)
McKenna Suarez (My Fire)
Corrin Wilmarth (Mon Moi)
Honorable Mention
Aidan Hamel (Vase-ceramics)
Katri Hamina (Mighty Mountain)
Payton Rue (Pear of one)
Mary Steeprow (Ringleader, Stitches, Strongman)
Carly Szedlak (Passing by)
Zelmira Vindas (Multi-faced self)
Morgan Williams (To journey by kayak)
Kali Lesoing (Melanie Martinez)
Click here to see a gallery of award-winning entries.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12. Students are judged on personal voice, technical skill and originality.