Fifteen Arlington Public Schools students received national medals in the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, according to an April 23 announcement. The awards program is now in its 103rd year and honors creative achievement among teens across the United States and Canada.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are considered a significant recognition for young artists. This year, more than 100,000 teens submitted over 340,000 works of art and writing for consideration. Approximately 2,500 works were awarded National Medals.
Among this year’s Arlington recipients, Yara Shomali from Arlington Tech earned the American Visions Medal for her work “Not to Scale.” Gold Medalists include Jeb Bachrack (H-B Woodlawn), Alexa Bayer (Wakefield), Lena Eliyas (Wakefield), Audrey Forman (Yorktown), Saturn Gibson (Career Center), Claytor Henderson (H-B Woodlawn), German Hernandez-Naranjo (Wakefield), and Jayden Pena (Wakefield). Silver Medalists are Sylvia Fiencke (H-B Woodlawn), Elsa Fischer (Wakefield), Sadie Lepzelter (H-B Woodlawn), Margaret Moore (Wakefield), Julia Spiggle (Wakefield) and Charlotte Swift (Yorktown).
The program offers scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors. Teens in grades seven through twelve can apply in twenty-nine categories of art and writing with the chance to have their work exhibited or published. Gold Medalists are invited to a ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 10. Selected award recipients will also have their artwork displayed at the Scholastic Inc. Building in New York.
Community members can view the winning artwork by visiting the APS Scholastic Art Awards webpage or contact the Arts Education Office for more information.
