Northern Michigan University's Northern Shores Storywork Writing Project has announced the 31 Upper Peninsula teens selected as regional award winners for the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the country's longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative students in grades 7-12. There were 113 submissions from the Upper Peninsula, a significant increase over the eight received last year.
NMU will honor the winners by hosting an exhibit in the DeVos Art Museum from Feb. 7-March 15. The U.P. awards ceremony will be held from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 15, in the NMU School of Art and Design. All award-winning teens and their teachers, families and friends are invited to attend. The teachers of the winners will be honored with a Scholastic educator pin at the ceremony.
The 10 winners in art categories, along with their awards were (by hometown):
Hancock: Gabrielle Myers, junior homeschooled student, honorable mention for her design entry;
Marquette: Sophia Capuana, senior, honorable mention in art portfolio and a silver key in painting; Raina Doughty, senior, honorable mention and a silver key in painting and a silver key in mixed media; Zoe Stephens, senior, two gold keys, one in drawing and one in painting—both nominated for the American Visions Award—as well as an honorable mention in comic art; and Seamus Waite, senior, who dominated the photography category with a gold key, a silver key and an honorable mention.
Negaunee: Elaina Beebe, a 12th grader at Negaunee High, with three honorable mentions in drawing, painting and sculpture; Hannah Josefsen, junior, two gold keys in drawing and editorial cartoon, both of which were nominated for the American Visions Award; Norima Korsman, junior, gold key and American Visions nomination in sculpture; Chloe Popko, senior, gold key and American Visions nomination for her art portfolio, “Ceramic Pieces,” a silver key in digital art and a silver key in fashion;
Norway: Jayda Hunter, senior, honorable mention and two silver keys in painting and a silver key in drawing and illustration.
The 21 winners in writing categories and their awards were:
Baraga: Madyson Evans, 8th grade, honorable mention and a silver key in novel writing;
Calumet: Sophie Brewer, senior, honorable mention in poetry; Nevaeh Carter, 8th grade, silver key in short story; Grace Dee, sophomore, silver key in short story; Aili Heflin, senior, gold key and American Voices nomination in personal essay; Jada Hendrickson, senior, silver key in personal essay; Levi Mills, senior, honorable mention in critical essay; Kaylee Newsom, senior, honorable mention in personal essay; Ozzie Nykanen, junior, honorable mention in short story;
Cedarville: Sawyer Frank, sophomore, a silver key in science fiction;
Gwinn: Paisley Armano, freshman, honorable mention and a silver key in poetry; Jude Lehto, sophomore, honorable mention in short story; Tyler Murphy, sophomore, honorable mention in flash fiction; Ava Murray, 8th grade, honorable mention in short story; Shelby Thurber, junior, gold key and American Voices nomination in humor.
Marquette: Syri DePetro, senior, honorable mention and a silver key in poetry; Raina Doughty, senior, gold key and American Voices nomination in poetry; Berkeley Thompson, sophomore, honorable mention, a gold key and an American Voices nomination in poetry.
Negaunee: Alyssa Borlace, senior, silver key in flash fiction;
Sault Ste. Marie: McKal Berry, senior, gold key and American Voices nomination in short story; Rylee Casey, 8th grade, honorable mention in science fiction.
All judging was blind—jurors did not know the student's names, schools or teachers. Northern Shores Storywork Writing Project Site thanks the following writing judges for their volunteer service: Tom Adolphs, Sara Daniels, Ellen Fee, Nancy Gold, Shelby Goode, Lynne Johnson, Patricia Killelea, Ari Koontz, Adam Nesbit, Tuuli Qin-Terrill, Joseph Self, Reagan Somero, and Nicolette Visciano. Thanks also to the following art judges: Tom Adolphs, Michele Bentti, Brian Kakas, Belle Lagrou, Carmen Olilla, Taryn Okesson, Carol Phillips, Ella Price, Betsy Rutz, Jason Schneider, Carrie VanderVeen, Tracy Wascom, and Alida Wing.
Associate Dean and Director of the School of Art & Design Jane Milkie and Professor Kel Sassi served as moderators for the art judging. Sassi also served as moderator for the writing judging.
Gold Key works of art and writing will be considered for national honors, including scholarships and inclusion in the National Exhibition and Scholastic Awards Traveling Exhibition, the annual anthology of award-winning teen writing, and the annual catalogue of award-winning teen art. Poets who win national awards are considered for the National Student Poets Program, the nation's highest honor for young poets presenting original work. National awards will be announced March 26.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are presented by the nonprofit organization the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. For more information about the Allivisit the Scholastic News Room: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/artandwriting.