The Scholastic Awards celebrated the 102nd class of National Medalists during Awards Week, June 10-12, in New York City! Teens, their families, and educators all came together for a jam-packed few days celebrating this tremendous accomplishment. In case you missed it, check out the full recap below and the ceremony on YouTube.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Check-In
Awards Week kicked off with two days of registration at the Marriot Marquis in Times Square. Teens and their supporters were greeted by Scholastic Awards staff, received their tickets to the National Ceremony, purchased Scholastic Awards merchandise from the Gold Key Boutique, took photos at the portrait booth, recorded videos for social media, and picked up copies of the 2025 publications (the 2025 Yearbook, Writing Selections, and Art Selections).
Drop-in Art Studio
Photography Credit: Josh Sauceda
The Medalists were invited to design the cover of their own notebooks in the Drop-In Art Studio, presented in collaboration with Community-Word Project.
An Introduction to Publishing: A Panel Discussion
That evening, teens had the opportunity to attend An Introduction to Publishing: A Panel Discussion. Led by a group of professionals from Scholastic Inc., the panelists discussed their own journeys to publishing and answered questions from the audience.
Gold Medal Open Mic
Afterwards, teens made their way to the Gold Medal Open Mic, where writers shared excerpts of their award-winning pieces.
Mocktail Mixer
The night ended with red-carpet photo opportunities, signature mocktails, snacks, and music at the Mocktail Mixer!
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Educator Appreciation Breakfast and the Scholarship Breakfast
On Wednesday morning, scholarship winners gathered for a celebration at RedEye Grill. As a thank you to teachers, educators were also invited to a complimentary breakfast, accompanied by remarks from middle-grade author Sayantani DasGupta.
The National Ceremony
The big event arrived on Wednesday, when the 2025 Scholastic Awards National Medalists gathered at Carnegie Hall! Hosted by Senior Vice President of Creative Development & Corporate Social Responsibility at Scholastic Inc., Billy DiMichele, the evening featured opening remarks from this year’s award-winning writing, read by actors Amy Ryan and Anthony Edwards. Tony Award-winning playwright, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, delivered an inspiring speech with creative advice you don’t want to miss (skip to 19:00 in the YouTube replay). In addition to celebrity guests, this year’s award-winning art and writing were showcased throughout the ceremony. The Gold Medal Portfolio Award winners, along with the Herblock, New York Life, Best-in-Grade, and Flaunt-It Scholarship Award winners were invited on stage for a bow to celebrate their accomplishments.
Thursday, June 12, 2025
The National Exhibition
Throughout the week, attendees were invited to view a selection of 2025 National Award-winning works and celebrate the talented teen artists who created them. On Thursday, June 12, guided tours were offered to those who registered in advance.
Congratulations to the 2025 Scholastic Awards National Medalists! It was an unforgettable week, filled with core memories, creative connections, and tons of celebration. You are officially a Scholastic Art & Writing Awards alumnus! Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on our alumni network!
Featured Image: Jason DeCrow/AP Content Services for Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.