Tartans Win Best-in-Grade Award and Six National Medals in Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Less than 1 percent of the 230,000 works of art and writing submitted by students across the United States win national medals. 
Six of St. Margaret’s talented artists and writers received national medals in the 2021 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, representing less than 1 percent of the 230,000 works of art and writing submitted by students across the United States.
 
The honors included special recognition for St. Margaret’s grade 8 student Jessica Zhu for her short story “Bloom.” In addition to winning a national gold medal, Jessica won the Best-in-Grade Award for grade 8 writers. The award provides a $500 scholarship and is given to just 24 gold medal recipients (two artists and two writers per grade).
 
Jessica wrote her award-winning piece as part of a short story reading and writing unit in the fall, where students read short stories, analyzed the literary elements, then brainstormed, planned and drafted their own coming-of-age tales.
 
“Jessica’s short story expertly captures the perspective of a young pianist, yearning to play but struggling to come to terms with his own priorities amidst his parents’ expectations. With exquisite sensory details and subtle symbolism, Jessica’s writing is both beautiful and relatable,” said Middle School English teacher Christie McMahon. “We are so happy for her. She is an extremely hard-working student, as well as an excellent citizen of our community.”
 
Also earning a national gold medal was sophomore Tina Mai, whose poem “Madame X 1884” was highly acclaimed by the national judges. The national gold medal follows a strong showing in the West Coast regional competition, where Tina won five regional Gold Keys in poetry.
 
In addition, St. Margaret’s students won four national silver medals in visual arts categories:
  • Senior Ryan Krall won a national silver medal in film & animation for “The Rodney Show.”
  • Junior Gianna Montesano won a national silver medal in photography for “focusing.”
  • Sophomore Katelyn Saiki won a national silver medal in digital art for “Traditional Culture.”
  • Junior Simon Valle won a national silver medal in photography for his work “cooper.”
As national gold medalists, Jessica and Tina will be honored at a virtual national ceremony, which will take place in June. 
 
Works that win gold keys at the regional level are considered for national recognition. St. Margaret’s had 24 gold key regional winners in the West Coast At-Large region, which was announced in February.
 
Since 1923, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards has recognized art and writing works in 29 different categories for students grades 7-12. Judges look for work that best exemplify originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. 
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An Independent Preschool Through Grade 12 College-Preparatory Day School in Orange County California

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