Three Students Win National Medals
Three Rivers students were recognized this month for work submitted to the National Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. Ashley Burgarella ’18 won a Gold Medal for her short story entitled “Biography of Rosemary,” Gianny Cepeda ’18 won a Silver Medal for her photograph “Youthful Determination,” and Grant Regan-Loomis ’22, won a Silver Medal for his photograph “Cobweb.” All three pieces received Gold Keys in the Boston Globe Scholastic competition in January.
It is impressive that three of Rivers’ six Gold Keys winners at the state level went on to receive recognition at the national level. Last fall and winter, students from across the country and abroad
submitted nearly 350,000 works of art and writing to the 2018 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Almost 19,600 works earned regional Gold Keys and advanced to national adjudication in New York City this winter. Of those Gold Key works, just 3,259 received National Medals, representing the top 1% of art and writing submitted to the 2018 Scholastic Awards!
In addition, Rivers students received 13 Silver Keys and 18 Honorable Mentions in the state competition, with 32 awards in art and 5 awards for writing overall. Five students received multiple awards, with one student, Isabel Hardy ’18 receiving Silver Keys in both categories, for photography and poetry. Joelle Mentis ’18 received an honorable Mention for her entire art portfolio—a first for a Rivers student. Eleven recipients were Middle Schoolers and 21 were Upper Schoolers.
submitted nearly 350,000 works of art and writing to the 2018 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Almost 19,600 works earned regional Gold Keys and advanced to national adjudication in New York City this winter. Of those Gold Key works, just 3,259 received National Medals, representing the top 1% of art and writing submitted to the 2018 Scholastic Awards!
In addition, Rivers students received 13 Silver Keys and 18 Honorable Mentions in the state competition, with 32 awards in art and 5 awards for writing overall. Five students received multiple awards, with one student, Isabel Hardy ’18 receiving Silver Keys in both categories, for photography and poetry. Joelle Mentis ’18 received an honorable Mention for her entire art portfolio—a first for a Rivers student. Eleven recipients were Middle Schoolers and 21 were Upper Schoolers.
“We’re pleased and proud to have both Upper School and Middle School artists as well as one of our writers recognized nationally,” commented Chair of the Visual Arts Department David Saul. “It’s a testament to our students’ creativity and productivity.”
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