Earlier this month, the University of Nevada, Reno’s Nightingale Concert Hall hosted the 2025 Scholastic Art and Writing Contest awards event, which celebrated over 80 Carson High School students and one teacher.
In addition to the outstanding quality of his students’ work—eight of whom received Gold Key Awards—Carson High Photography Teacher Matt Theilen was also honored for his commitment to artistic excellence.
Nearly 80 distinguished awards were given to 76 Carson High School students in total, with several students receiving multiple honors.
Among those who received Gold Key prizes were Ashton Benenati, Abigayle Coulam, Madison Crozier, Sebastian Goodwin, Maggie King, Joshua Lopez, Angel Vega, Mabel Wacker, and Adam Zoghra-Awali.
Silver Key awards were also given to Allison Anderson, Alessia Barrios, Karla Brena Gutierrez, Shyanne Casteel, Sylis Chalmers, Addison Connet, Madison Crozier, Alexa Gaxiola, Lleremy Hernandez, Roper Leland, Eli Locatelli, Joshua Lopez, Paityn Madera, Alex Martinez, Jason Matley, Izabell McCullen, Keani Rizo, Wehilani Ronk, Amnesty Spraggins, and Angel Vega.
The following students were also recognized for earning Honorable Mention awards: Adolfo Arreola, Alessia Barrios, Sophia Bengoechea, Kylie Carrigan, Adriana Castillo, Sylis Chalmers, Sydney Clark, Chloe DeLallo, Khia Dunbar, Chelsea Empeno, Camryn Gallow, Alexa Gaxiola, Sebastian Goodwin, Riley Gordon, Braelyn Heckman, Nelleh Hellen, Bridget Lewis, Eli Locatelli, Elizabeth Loos, Lindsay Lopez, Paityn Madera, Stephanie Mata, Izabell McCullen, Kekoa Mitchell, Britney Montero, Jennifer Mora-Rodriguez, Clare Mulvihill, Tien Nguyen, Ashley Orozco, Maria Pimentel, Makayla Rabideau, William Ragget, Alexa Rasmusson, Christian Rey, Keani Rizo, Alexa Robles, Allisson Rodriguez, Mazzy Root-Ferguson, Emjae Salanoa, Julie Salanoa, Rebecca Salas-Perez, Jerilyn Salinas Contreras, Alessandra Sandoval Orozco, Joselyn Tapia, Dianna Torres, Angel Vega, Mabel Wacker, Sophia Wahl, Pebble Wiggins, Hailey Woods and Sonne Zambrana.
Throughout February, Gold Key Art will be on display at the University of Nevada, Reno gallery located in the Church Fine Arts Building.
The Nevada Museum of Art will screen the Gold/Silver/Honorable Mention in a slideshow, you can also click here to see all of the winners.
Community members will also have the opportunity to see all of the Scholastic award-winning artwork at Carson High School’s annual art display in May 2025. A few of them are displayed below:
Carson City School District says that the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the oldest and most prominent recognition program in the nation for creative teenagers in grades 7–12, having been established in 1923.
The Awards honor outstanding student talent in 28 art and writing categories, such as painting, photography, poetry, short stories, fashion, and more.
They are presented by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Thousands of kids from all around the United States submit their work each year for evaluation by panels of educators, artists, and industry professionals.
They say Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Lena Dunham, and Tschabalala Self are a few notable former winners.
The awards give young authors and artists the chance to pursue creative careers and have their views heard through scholarships, exhibitions, and national recognition.
To learn more about Scholastic Art & Writing awards, click here.