Teen Competition Seeks the Next Great American Writer

October 21, 2011 - Truman Capote, Joyce Carol Oates, and Sylvia Plath, all launched their creative careers with the help of a national competition for teens. The Philadelphia Writing Project is now inviting today's aspiring artists in grades 7-12 to submit entries in that competition, the 2012 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

The Philadelphia Writing Project (PhilWP) is partnering in this effort with the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing the nation's most talented teen artists and writers. The Awards competition, entering its 89th year, is the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for student achievement in the visual and literary arts.

Teens are invited to submit work in 28 categories of art and writing, including film and animation, video game design, sculpture, photography, fashion design, poetry, journalism, humor, dramatic script and sciencefiction. In addition to national recognition, the award-winners received scholarships and stipends to arts programs.

PhilWP administers the Awards in the greater Philadelphia region. Submissions are first judged locally with top-winning works then presented to national panels of creative leaders to determine which receive the highest honors. This year, joining author Edwidge Danticat as a national juror will be curators from major museums, leading journalists, gallerists, artists and established alumnae.

School District of Philadelphia teacher and Philadelphia Writing Project teacher-consultant Joan Asprakis explains, "Students are writing on their own and have often asked me to read their poetry, short stories, and even novels. I felt a need to have their writing acknowledged as an academic endeavor worthy of recognition by our school."

"Amazing partnerships with committed organizations are key to the success of the Scholastic Awards," said Virginia McEnerney, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. "The regional affiliate network, outreach partners, schools, teachers and funders who support our work share our commitment to young people, and affirm that creative accomplishment is a gateway to success in many different fields. Our students thrive with the support of scholarship partners including Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Kenyon College, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Carnegie Mellon University."

Fifteen graduating high school seniors will be awarded with Portfolio Gold Medals, which include a $10,000 scholarship for each winner. Additional scholarships are made available to Portfolio Silver Medalists and through sponsored awards and stipends to summer arts programs. The Alliance will offer more then $270,000 in direct scholarships and awards this year.
Teachers of award-winners also receive recognition, and hundreds of high school senior award winners are eligible for nearly $4 million in scholarships through a network of more than 60 colleges and universities that recognize the significance of the Awards.

Since 1923, nine million students have been recognized through exhibitions and publications and have shared in more than $25 million in awards and scholarships.

For more information about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, how to enter, reconnecting as an alumni or exhibit details, visit www.artandwriting.org. Plus, find the Awards on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact: Ted Domers, Philadelphia Writing Project, 215-898-1919 or philwp@gse.upenn.edu
For additional press information, visit www.artandwriting.org/Affiliate/PA001W, www.gse.upenn.edu/philwp, and www.mediaroom.scholastic.com/artandwriting.

Contact: Kat Stein, Exec. Director of Communications / katstein@gse.upenn.edu / (215) 898-9642