Wren Hammond was awarded a gold key for Mixed Media. Courtesy/LAPS
Hannah Waldschidt was awarded a gold key for Mixed Media. Courtesy/LAPS
Sabrina Kelley was awarded a gold key for Digital. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Los Alamos High School art students submitted 36 works in the 2025 New Mexico Scholastic Art and Writing Competition and won a total of 18 awards. In addition, LAHS Fine Arts teacher Mary Grace received the New Mexico Art Education Association Award of Excellence and Appreciation.
This year’s Gold and Silver Key winners exhibited their work at the African American Performing Arts Center and Exhibit Hall in EXPO New Mexico in Albuquerque. All students were recognized at the Scholastic Art Ceremony.
“Once again, I would like to congratulate the art students of Los Alamos High School,” Grace said. “It is truly my pleasure to join them on their creative journey. I see firsthand the development of their talents, the increase in their confidence and the award-winning artwork they produce. These art students could easily be a part of the more than 3.5 million potential careers in the creative industries.”
Gold keys were awarded to Wren Hammond and Hannah Waldschidt for Mixed Media and Sabrina Kelley for Digital. Kelley also received a Silver Key for Editorial Cartoon and Waldschidt was awarded a Silver Key for Digital. Hammond received a Silver Key for Color Pencil/White Gel Pen and an Honorable Mention for Sharpie/Graphite.
Also receiving Silver Keys were Alexander Wheat for Ballpoint Pen and Annie White for Mixed Media/Color Pencil. Catherine Price received a Silver Key for WaterColor/Color Pencil and an Honorable Mention for Graphite. Kaidance Amburgey and Jade Blackhat received Honorable Mentions for Mixed Media and JoyMei Lincoln and Tyghe Tripp for Acrylic.
View all the winners’ artworks here.
About The Scholastic Art & Writing Program
Organized by The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards were established in the early 1920’s to encourage, foster and reward creativity in the nation’s classrooms. It is the largest, longest-running and most prestigious student recognition program in America, according to the New Mexico Art Education Association website. The contest is open to students in grades 7 through 12. Throughout its 90-year history, the Scholastic program has provided early recognition to some of the nation’s most celebrated artists and writers, including Richard Avedon, Harry Bertoia, Mel Bochner, Truman Capote, Red Groom, Robert Indiana, Joyce Maynard, Joyce Carol Oates and Robert Redford. Internationally recognized artists with a Colorado connection include Quang Ho, Dale Chisman, Mel Silverman, Donald Lipski and Hugh Grant.
For more information, go to https://newmexicoartawards.wordpress.com/.