Revere High School students were recognized for their outstanding artistic abilities at the recent Scholastic’s Art Awards show.
This past Saturday, Kent State University Stark hosted the 2013 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards show. Students entered their artwork in categories such as drawing, photography, painting, and ceramics. The work was judged and the competition was held at a regional level, where the student’s artwork competed against other pieces in the same category.
The awards ranged from Honorable Mention, Silver Key and Gold Key. This year, Revere students were awarded with four gold key portfolios, 49 gold keys, 17 silver keys, and 41 honorable mentions. Art teacher Robert Pierson commented that this year was the most awards he has ever seen Revere win.
“A lot of people who make their living in the arts, and are well known and are recognized for their work in writing and visual art won a gold or silver key in high school,” Pierson said. “It is a big accomplishment and is a highly respected level to achieve. Any art school or production artist knows what a Scholastic’s gold key is.”
A gold key portfolio consist of eight works judged together as one submission and are recognized as exceptional pieces of artwork as a whole.
Ruth Ackerman, a student of Pierson’s, received this award for her drawing portfolio. Photography teacher Paulette Colantone also had three students Athan Burlotos, Brian Carano and Sam Scherbakov win this award.
“To us as teachers, it justifies what we taught them,” Colantone said. “These shows are based on teachers entering work for the students and they are based on high school students winning. To us, the more they win, it kind of validates that we taught them something well, or they’re that creative that they used our advice to make their stuff better. I feel accomplished too.”
The gold key works, along with the gold key portfolios, move on to the national level in New York where they will be judged as they compete for national gold keys. Ackerman said she was shocked by her accomplishment, as she received a gold key portfolio award, six gold keys, three silver keys, and three honorable mentions.
Ackerman said she enjoyed the ceremony along with seeing the works displayed in the exhibit. She hopes the recognition will allow her to earn enough scholarship funds to attend her dream school, Columbus College of Art and Design.
“I am so happy just to win so many golds regionally, but going on to New York for the national awards would be a huge honor. The competition is really fierce at that level however so I'm not going to get my hopes up just yet,” Ackerman said.
More than 600 pieces of artwork were displayed at the exhibit. Pierson believes prestigious awards are a reflection of the Revere school district.
The gold key portfolios and gold keys are currently being judged at the national level. The winners will be announced March 15, according to the Scholastic’s Art Awards website.
Revere students are also preparing for the next art competition, The Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibition in March.
Marisa Salopek is a senior at Revere Highs School. She writes weekly for Bath.Ohio.com. If you are a high school student interested in writing for Ohio.com, contact Ohio.com Content Publisher Deanna Stevens Ulrich at dstevens@thebeaconjournal.com.
