Time: 3:00–6:15 pm
Location: New York Marriott Marquis

Design temporary skin art with henna. Henna paste is made using henna powder—a natural pigment sourced from the henna tree—and a few other ingredients such as essential oils, sugar, and lemon juice.

Time: 3:15–4:15 pm
Location: New York Marriott Marquis

Make friends while learning a new dance routine with dancer and choreographer Mini Zhang. Put it all together and impress the folks back home with a fun group TikTok video.

Mini Zhang was born and raised in China and discovered her love for dance when she was 16. After graduating college in the US, she decided to pursue her passion for dance in New York City. She has trained in various street and commercial styles with world-renowned teachers and choreographers in NYC. She has worked with choreographers such as Kelly Peters, RK Davis, Princess Lockeroo, Ryan Millar, David Thomas, Carlos Neto, and Ruthy Inchaustegui in stage performances, music videos, off-broadway shows, and more.

In addition, Mini has been teaching Street Jazz and Hip Hop since 2016 and is a faculty member for both Brickhouse NYC and PMT House of Dance. In 2021, she opened her own studio PJM Studio in New York.

Time: 6:30–7:45 pm
Location: New York Marriott Marquis

Interested in learning how to get published or a career in the publishing industry? Get insights and advice from the Scholastic Inc. Editorial Team.

Time: 8:00–9:15 pm
Location: New York Marriott Marquis

A reception where students can connect with their creative peers and national jurors.

Time: 9:00–10:15 am
Location: Scholastic Inc., 130 Mercer Street

Let’s break down the existential question: Who are we? You are a writer, you are an artist, but your larger identity permeates into your work. This workshop, led by poets Haydil Henriquez and Carolina Ixta, focuses on getting to the roots of your identity as an artist or writer and celebrating your roots.

Haydil Henriquez was born y-a-i-dil. Daughter of diligent Dominican parents, raised in the solemn concrete of the South Bronx. An Afro-Caribbean, daydreamer, auntie, storyteller. Haydil Henriquez is an arts educator, cultural advocate, Bronx-bred poet, and the NYC Scholastic Awards Manager. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & Education from Swarthmore College in 2014 and has worked with communities across Latin America facilitating oral storytelling and poetry workshops for youth.

Carolina Ixta is a writer from Oakland, California. A daughter of Mexican immigrants, she received her B.A. in Creative Writing and Spanish Language and Literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and obtained her Master’s degree in Education at the University of California, Berkeley. She was the recipient of three national medals in novel writing by Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in 2012, 2013, and 2014. In 2018, she was selected by Kiese Laymon as one of the residents for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Alumni’s Residency. She is an elementary school teacher whose pedagogy centers on critical race theory at the primary education level. Her debut young adult novel, Shut Up, This is Serious is forthcoming with Quill Tree at HarperCollins and is slated to release in early 2024.

Proof of vaccination is required to attend the exhibition and events at Scholastic Inc. (130 Mercer Street), so please come prepared with a paper or digital copy of your Covid-19 vaccination record.

Time: 10:20–11:20 am
Location: Scholastic Inc., 130 Mercer Street

Are you curious about the ways in which young people are using their creativity and passion to make a positive impact on the world? Look no further than the Scholastic Awards and Rise panel discussion featuring a group of incredible young individuals who are harnessing the power of the arts to create change. From spoken word poetry to film and beyond, this panel will showcase the diverse ways in which the arts can be a catalyst for social impact. You’ll hear from youth who have used their talents to advocate for important causes such as climate justice, racial equity, and mental health awareness.

Hosted by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and RISE, this panel is an opportunity to learn from and be inspired by the next generation of change-makers. Join us as we celebrate the intersection of creativity and impact and discover the limitless possibilities that emerge when we use our voices and talents to Rise to effect positive change.

Featured Panelists:

Sarah Fathima Mohammed, 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Award Gold Medalist

Spencer Strebe, 2023 Scholastic Art &Writing Award Silver Medal with Distinction recipient

Meera Dasgupta, 2021 RISE Global Winner

Jennifer Uche, 2021 RISE Global Winner

Proof of vaccination is required to attend the exhibition and events at Scholastic Inc. (130 Mercer Street), so please come prepared with a paper or digital copy of your Covid-19 vaccination record.