Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Excellence in Visual Arts & Literature
The John Cooper School Students Shine in the 2024-25 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Celebrating Excellence in Visual Arts, Literature, and Design
The John Cooper School is proud to announce its 2024-25 Scholastic Art & Writing Award winners in one of the most prestigious national competitions honoring young creatives. This year, Cooper students have raised the bar, securing an outstanding number of Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention awards—a reflection of the School's dynamic culture of artistic excellence, innovation, and creative achievement.
“These students are finding bold new ways to tell their stories, and their creativity, originality, and hard work shine through in every piece,” said Brette Book, Upper School English Department Chair. “Having our Cooper Dragons’ voices recognized at a national level is an incredible achievement, and we couldn’t be prouder.”
With this year’s outstanding results, The John Cooper School solidifies its place as a powerhouse for young artists and writers, proving once again that its students are ready to shape the future of creative expression.
“Our students are pushing the boundaries of creativity, and their work speaks volumes about their talent, originality, and passion,” said Kara Whiting, Visual Arts Director at The John Cooper School.
A Legacy of Artistic Excellence
For more than a century, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, have served as a launchpad for the nation’s most influential creative minds. This prestigious program has recognized the early promise of luminaries such as Andy Warhol, Stephen King, and Amanda Gorman, and it continues to shine a spotlight on young visionaries whose work challenges, innovates, and inspires.
The John Cooper School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory day school. The School's mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.
English Award information shared by Brette Book, Upper School English Department Chair:
Upper School Winners
Ryleigh Pengel, Grade 11
Poetry—"The Harvest"
Gold Key
Leah Ruckman, Grade 12
Critical Essay—"Deep Trouble with Deep Fakes"
Honorable Mention
Ana Henners-Grainger, Grade 11
Poetry—"Third Cultura"
Silver Key
Poetry—"I Often"
Honorable Mention
Addie Parker
Flash Fiction—"Tis Only a Paragraph"
Honorable Mention
Middle School Winner
Ria Rapaka, Grade 8
Poetry—"Ode to Pendants"
Poetry—"The Ballad of a Bloodthirsty Beast"
Poetry—"Reach for the Clouds"
Poetry—"Little Black Bird"
Poetry—"Bare"
Poetry—"Prepare for a Transformation"
Poetry—"The Ballad of a Bloodthirsty Beast"
Poetry—"Reach for the Clouds"
Poetry—"Little Black Bird"
Poetry—"Bare"
Poetry—"Prepare for a Transformation"
Honorable Mention
View Visual Art Pieces on Display
View Visual Art Pieces on Display
Visual Art Award Information shared by Kara Whiting, Visual Arts Department Chair:
Gold Key | ||||
9 | Beatie | Izzy | 3D Printing | Gold Key |
10 | Harb | Rayyan | Photo | Gold Key |
11 | Grainger | Ana Henners | Sculpture | Gold Key |
11 | Patel | Simran | Photo | Gold Key |
11 | Qin | Vivian | Photo | Gold Key |
12 | Ninvoraskul | Tem | Portfolio | Gold Key |
12 | Zhang | Junge | Painting | Gold Key |
Silver Key | ||||
9 | Phasuk | Win | Sculpture | Silver Key |
10 | Davis | Raj | Photo | Silver Key |
10 | Davis | Raj | Photo | Silver Key |
10 | Kitagawa | Gabrielle | Ceramics | Silver Key |
10 | Nemeth | Katherine | Drawing | Silver Key |
11 | Mitton | Alison | Painting | Silver Key |
11 | Schaprio | Simon | Digital Art | Silver Key |
11 | Qin | Vivian | Photo | Silver Key |
12 | Boyd | Annabelle | Portfolio | Silver Key |
12 | Boyd | Annabelle | Digital Art | Silver Key |
12 | Kodali | Jay | 3D Modeling | Silver Key |
12 | Lastinger | Jackson | Photo | Silver Key |
12 | Lastinger | Jackson | Photo | Silver Key |
Honorable Mention | ||||
9 | Karst | Hunter | Photo | Honorable Mention |
9 | Rovirosa | Rocco | Photo | Honorable Mention |
10 | Attwood | Isa | Photo | Honorable Mention |
10 | Gyselen | Caitlin | Photo | Honorable Mention |
10 | Tindal | Ariyana | Drawing | Honorable Mention |
10 | Wass | Brayden | Digital Art | Honorable Mention |
10 | Zhang | Junheng (Henry) | Digital Art | Honorable Mention |
11 | Cockrill | Chad | Digital Art | Honorable Mention |
11 | Hagle | Nick | Photo | Honorable Mention |
11 | Heo | Camille | Photo | Honorable Mention |
11 | Kim | Lauren | Digital Art | Honorable Mention |
11 | Qin | Vivian | Photo | Silver Key |
11 | Riveros | Luca | Honorable Mention | |
11 | Winston | Ari | Digital Art | Honorable Mention |
12 | Boyd | Annabelle | Digital Art | Honorable Mention |
12 | Boyd | Annabelle | Fashion | Honorable Mention |
12 | Boyd | Avery | Drawing | Honorable Mention |
12 | Capsimalis | Ana | Honorable Mention | |
12 | Del Angel Aguilar | Ana | Ceramics | Honorable Mention |
12 | Ghosh | Gauri | Painting | Honorable Mention |
12 | Kennedy | Palmer | 3D Modeling | Honorable Mention |
12 | Kodali | Jay | 3D Modeling | Honorable Mention |
12 | Miller | Ellis | Animation/Film | Honorable Mention |
12 | Ninvoraskul | Tem | 3D Modeling | Honorable Mention |
According to the recognition letter:
"Their work(s) was reviewed and recognized by a panel of creative professionals, and awarded for its outstanding merit in originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal voice and vision. Since 1923, the Awards have recognized some of the nation’s most celebrated artists and writers while they were teenagers, including Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay WalkingStick, José Parlá, Amanda Gorman, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andy Warhol."
The John Cooper School
From Curiosity to Wisdom
The John Cooper School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory day school. Our mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
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