While these notable alumni all have March birthdays, we’d like to wish all of our alums a very happy March birthday! Take a look at  some of our March babies below.

Kay WalkingStick (March 2, 1935) is an artist of Native American descent who finds inspiration in her heritage and the landscape around her. She is a member of the Cherokee Nation and is also of Ho-Chunk and Scotch-Irish descent. WalkingStick won a Scholastic Award in 1947 when she was 13 years old.

On June 6, 2014, the Scholastic Awards will honor Kay WalkingStick at Carnegie Hall with an Alumni Achievement Award!

 

Harry Bertoia (March 10, 1915-1978) was an Italian born American Artist who became most well-known for his modern furniture design and sound art sculpture. By 1957, Bertoia’s furniture designs were selling so well he was able to devote his time and energy to creating sound sculptures; 3D structures that he manipulated to create sounds as well as stunning visual aesthetics.

Bertoia was a Scholastic Award winning in 1934 and 1936- but not for design or sculpture! Check out this ink drawing he won for in 1936 entitled “Wash Dry” while attending Cass Technical High School in Detroit.

 

Ezra Jack Keats (March 11, 1916-1983) was an American Children’s book author and illustrator. Keats is most well-known for introducing themes of multiculturalism into mainstream American children’s literature. Keats is also credited for developing the use of collage as a medium for illustration.

In 1934, Keats won a Gold Key for his painting entitled “Shanytown.” It certainly is a beautifully done illustrative work!

 

Maureen Daly (March 15, 1921-2006) was an American author.  One of her first novels, Seventeenth Summer, captured the attention of a teenage audience like never before. Some scholars even credit Daly with creating the genre of “Young Adult” novels.

In 1938, Daly won a Scholastic Award for a short story. Check out her certificate!

 

John Updike (March 18, 1932-2009) was an American novelist, poet, literary critic and art critic. The two-time Pulitzer Prize winning author has gone down in history as one of the most influential (and prolific!) authors of all time, producing an average of one book a year!

In 1948, John Updike won a Scholastic Award for a “Gag” Cartoon when he was 16 years old…check out the Announcement!

 

 

 

Alan Arkin (March 26, 1934) is an Academy Award winning American actor, director and musician.  Appearing in over a hundred films, television series, and plays since the start of his career in 1957, Arkin is considered talented and dynamic entertainers of our time.

Check out the Catalog cover the year he won, 1951. Alan was 16 years old and received an Award for a ceramic sculpture.

 

 

 

Edward Sorel was born March 26, 1929. Sorel is of the most famous and influential caricaturist, cartoonist, and story-teller. Much of his work is associated with left-wing political commentary. Edward was our Alumni Achievement Award recipient in 2012.

Here Edward is pictured with his 1947 Scholastic Award winning print!