Student Writers and Artists Earn National, Regional "Golden Key" Awards
In this year’s Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, 14 Notre Dame Preparatory School students earned recognition, some taking home multiple honors with NDP students earning a total of 23 awards. In particular, Summer Nelson ‘23 won a Gold Medal “A Black Woman's HERstory.” This is the second year in a row an NDP student has earned this honor. In 2020, Brooke Johnston ‘24 earned a National Silver Medal as an eighth grader.
“My poem is a black woman’s experience moving through society and American culture, constantly being put down but always persevering. It is a poem of hope; we will always keep going!” said Summer.
Summer’s poem was awarded a Gold Key at the regional level. Riley Reinhardt ’25 also earned a Gold Key in art for her painting entitled “Walk with My Sisters.”
Two students earned Silver Keys in art: Nelson (digital art, “Penn Station”) and Heaven Williams ’23 (digital art, “A Day at Virginia Beach”). Three students won Silver Keys in writing: Brooke Johnston ‘24 (two in poetry, “Tomorrow’s Rising Sun” and “We The People”), Brooke Mackley ’23 (Short story, “Long Live the Truth”), and Olivia Sobkowicz ’25 (novel writing, “Phoenix Dragon”).
Additionally, the following students earned honorable mentions art and writing: (art) Mackenzie Alderson ’21, Violet Bassett ’25, Alexis Duhig ’23, Emmy Gehrke ’23, Rebecca Peace ’21, Riley Reinhart ’25, and Leah Stuart ’22; (writing) Lauren DeCourcey ’22, Brooke Johnston ’24, Brooke Mackley ’23, Sofia Rest ’21, and Olivia Sobkowicz ’25.
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the country. Student works are evaluated by leaders in visual and literary arts and awarded based how well each work fits the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards’ core values: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision.
Notre Dame Preparatory School
An Independent, Catholic Girls School, Grades 6-12, Sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame
