Each year, the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers recognizes students across the country for their creative work through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Founded in 1923, the program is comprised of a regional and national competition level, honoring students through a multitude of different award categories and scholarships. This year, 20 Hill students received regional writing awards from the competition, the highest number of winners that the school has ever had in a single year. 

According to Director of the Humphrey Writing Center Mark Pearson, the most regional winners that Hill has had prior to this has only been around eight or nine. He explained that receiving a Scholastic Award is a particularly impressive accomplishment considering that the Philadelphia writing region is an extremely competitive one.

“It’s a big deal,” Pearson said. “I think, because the Philadelphia region is very competitive. There are a lot of great public and private schools in our area, and I think it says a lot about our students’ work to be recognized among the work of all the other students applying.”

On the regional stage, Hill students received five Gold Keys, 13 Silver Keys, and 18 Honorable Mention awards, with the five Gold Key works automatically being considered for judging at the national level. 

Aidan Ma ’23 received a gold key for one of his flash fiction pieces.

“I wrote a flash fiction piece called ‘Raindrops.’ It’s basically just about the thoughts and inner conflicts going through a person’s head as a rainstorm grows heavier outside their house,” Ma explained. 

Nimala Sivakumar ’23, another award winner, described her Scholastic Award as an assurance of her writing ability and hard work.

“I wrote a flash fiction piece about self esteem issues and figuring out you’re in love with someone you thought you hated. I got an Honorable Mention, which was an affirmation for the amount of time and effort I put into my work. I truly enjoy the process of writing, but this award was the cherry on top.”

Academic Dean and Athey Family Master of English Katy Hudak has taught several of the Scholastic Award winners. Hudak said that the students who received awards were also some of her most driven, standing out in the classroom through their clear passion and creativity. 

“They have an enthusiasm that, with every assignment that I give them, they tend to go just a little bit more creative, a little bit more in depth … they’re so self-motivated, and not just by the grade of the assignment, but because they express themselves through writing. I think that’s what the judges of the Scholastic Awards look for, an authentic and instantly recognizable creativity and passion that just comes through in the writing itself.”

Pearson echoed this sentiment, going on to say that he promotes the Scholastic Awards each year as a way for the school’s many passionate writers to “put their work out there.”  He also hopes that the program will bring more of a competitive side to writing, which is normally a solitary activity. 

Pearson’s message for students hoping to apply to the competition next year was simple. 

“Keep writing, and give it a shot. I think it’s worth a chance.”