By J1 Reporter Lilly Italia

Building confidence through competition, contests involving the arts are able to be a necessary part of growth for children and teens. The Scholastic Art and Writing awards present students with both regional and national honors for their creative works. These distinctions have the opportunity to be imperative toward student growth.

The Scholastic Art Awards are judged through three categories: honorable mention, silver key, and gold key. The regional results for these awards were announced on Jan. 29.

For the 2025 school year, Marian received eight gold keys, eight silver keys, and four honorable mentions. These works will be displayed at the Omaha Public School’s TAC building. Students who won gold keys will compete at the national level for potential gold and silver metals along with various scholarships, where some get the opportunity to have their work displayed in Carnegie Hall.

Marian art teacher, Mrs. Ashley Bauer, has personal ties to this contest.

“I actually won a few gold keys when I was younger and had my artwork entered by my art teachers,” she said.

So, remembering her excitement as a teenager, she began entering student work into this contest her first year teaching. Not only does this contest provide young artists with a confidence boost, it gives students a platform to showcase their creativity. By having work displayed, it opens doors for commissioning or purchasing of student artwork. 

Mentally, however, entering work into contests serves as an opportunity for students to grow in confidence in their creativity.

 “I think realizing that you can be recognized for something you love and enjoy doing, especially when it’s something unique or different or just really cool, makes young artists feel seen and excited about making more work; especially when you see your own piece in a gallery setting on display. It’s just a really surreal feeling when you are so young and get to experience that,” Bauer said.

Outside of art contests, students can obtain the same confidence through their writing.

Sophomore Delaney Shea entered poetry into the 2024 PoeticPower contest through Creative Communication. This contest allowed student work to be selected for publishing in a selective national poetry book that is now in the Marian library’s poetic collection. Shea was among Marian’s 33 students selected that semester. “It was really encouraging as a writer to see my poetry alongside other great works,” she said. Contributing to her confidence, Shea has continued to write and share her poetry.

Marian students hold many opportunities to gain confidence in their creativity. The 2026 Scholastic Art Awards will be open for submission next September, while PoeticPower’s spring issue is open for submission until April 10. Marian’s very own BURN Magazine also offers twice a year recognition for artists and writers. 

For More Information:
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards https://www.artandwriting.org/
PoeticPower https://www.poeticpower.com/
Burn Magazine https://burnmagazineonline.wordpress.com/