2023 is a big year for the Scholastic Awards—it’s our centennial anniversary! When the Awards started in 1923, things were a lot different: for example, there were no cell phones, internet, or even computers, public high schools were starting to become more prevalent in communities across the country, and for the first time in America, more people were living in urban areas than in farming communities. Over this past century, the Awards themselves have changed—what started as a local writing contest has now grown to become the largest and most prestigious awards program for creative teens. To help the Awards continue for another century, we’ve made improvements to the program to make the experience enjoyable and accessible for all. Here’s a rundown of the updates you need to know about to participate in the 2023 Scholastic Awards:
Scholarships and Cash Awards
The Awards partner with organizations and sponsors to provide scholarships for students and cash awards for their educators. The following scholarships and cash awards are available for the 2023 Awards. These scholarships are for individual teens and will not be awarded to works created by groups of collaborators.
The Flaunt It Award
Underwritten by Don’t Hide It, Flaunt It Inc., The Flaunt It Award offers $1,000 scholarships to two students, and $250 cash awards for their educators, who look or feel different and reflect and share their experiences about what makes them unique and explores DHIFI’s theme: “The things that make me different makes me, me.” All students and categories are eligible. During the entry process, students must opt-in to be considered for this award and a written response of 50 words or more is required.
The Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon
Underwritten by The Herb Block Foundation, The Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon offers $1,000 scholarships for three students whose visual art offers commentary or criticism on current events, social events, or political topics. All students who submit editorial cartoons are automatically eligible for this award and no written response is required.
New York Life Award
Underwritten by the New York Life Foundation, the National New York Life Award offers $1,000 scholarships to six students whose works explore personal grief and loss, and $250 cash awards for their educators. This award additionally offers state-level scholarships of $500 to two students from each of the following states: California, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas. All students and categories are eligible. During the entry process, students must opt-in to be considered for this award and a written response of 50 words or more is required.
Portfolio Awards
The Portfolio Awards are made possible by generous individual donors and other supporters. This award offers$12,500 scholarships to 16 Gold Medal Portfolio winners and $1,000 cash awards for their educators. Additionally, this award offers $2,000 scholarships to 24 Silver Medal with Distinction Portfolio winners and $250 for their educators. All graduating seniors who enter portfolios consisting of a collection of six works with accompanying Artist or Writer Statements and Personal Statements are automatically eligible for this award.
The portfolio awards are supported by: BLICK Art Materials, Command Companies and the Merson Family, Derek Fordjour, the Jay Pritzker Foundation, Jill and Peter Kraus, Maurice R. Robinson Fund, The New York Times, Dav and Sayuri Pilkey, the Roome Fund, and Quad and the Windhover Foundation.
New This Year for Graduating Seniors: Dav Pilkey Awards
Two Gold Medal Portfolios and ten Silver Medal with Distinction Portfolios will receive the Dav Pilkey Award, underwritten by best-selling author Dav Pilkey.
Entry Fees
Beginning September 1, 2022, entry fees will be $10 for an individual entry and $30 for a portfolio.
If the fee is a barrier to any teen’s participation, we will waive the fee. Fee waivers are made possible, in part, by BLICK Art Materials.
Judging Criteria
One of the best ways to get ready to enter the Awards is to review the criteria we ask our judges to consider when they select the works that will receive awards. This year, we’re emphasizing our search for original voices and visions and expanding the way we talk about skill. Please review the updated criteria to understand what judges are considering when they review works.
Originality
We want to celebrate work that is unique and blurs boundaries. We want work that challenges your assumptions. Is it new? Does it surprise you?
An original work is different from what others have created. This means the work is not copied from someone else’s original art or writing. We understand that artists and writers sometimes make work that references other creators and popular culture in original and meaningful ways, but every work that wins an Award must be substantially different from any source material.
Review our Copyright & Plagiarism Guidelines to ensure your work is original!
Skill
We interpret the word “skill” broadly. This may refer to craftsmanship and the way the work was made, but it may also refer to other types of skill. Consider critical thinking, problem-solving, or the way an idea is developed over time. Empathy can be a skill. Creativity is a skill!
Personal Voice or Vision
We’re looking for work that expresses an authentic perspective and stands out from classroom assignments and social media trends.
And that’s it! You’re all caught up and ready to enter your work into the 2023 Scholastic Awards. If you have questions about the entry process, please visit our FAQ page or contact us at info@artandwriting.org.