The Best-in-Grade Award, sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies, is given to works that exemplify the three judging criteria: originality, technical skill, and emergence of a personal voice or vision. Four works from each grade level, two art and two writing in grades 7-12, are presented with this award.
Each of the 24 Best-in-Grade recipients receives a $500 prize. Congratulations to the 2018 Best-in-Grade Award recipients:
- Grade 7: Liam Collins, Danielle Hedvig, Daniel Leon, Lauren Puryear
- Grade 8: Adam Iglesias, Kayla Kim, Keshav Vasanth, Estelle Zhou
- Grade 9: Allina Ai, Jae Ho Kim, Jaeah Kim, Noah Trevino
- Grade 10: Eliseo Corona, Pamina Falk, Pranav Mishra, Isabella Vella
- Grade 11: Daniel Blokh, Lilah Krugman, Ester Petukhova, Kendall Vorhis
- Grade 12: Vicky Brown, M.L.E. DeJaco, Sorieba FoFanah, Yliuz Sierra Marin
Educators of these gifted students also receive a $250 prize. Congratulations to the 2018 Best-in-Grade educators:
- Rita Attuquayefio, Otto Middle School, Plano, TX
- TJ Beitelman, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Birmingham, AL
- Wook Choi, Oogie Art, New York, NY
- Yoonhee Chung, Aineo Cultural Art Center, Duluth, GA
- Walter Crump, Commonwealth School, Boston, MA
- Casey Curry, Howard W. Blake High School, Tampa, FL
- Micayla Frankian, Rancho Pico Junior High School, Valencia, CA
- Maria Galati, David Douglas High School, Portland, OR
- Nicholas Geary, Goose Creek High School, Goose Creek, SC
- Brittany Hennessey, South Elgin High School, South Elgin, IL
- Michael Jasorka, Venice Arts, Venice, CA
- Ashley Jones, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Birmingham, AL
- Allison Kornet, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Cambridge, MA
- Kyung Ju Kwon, Hyun Art, Seoul, South Korea
- Rinat Manhoff, Prospect Sierra Middle School, El Cerrito, CA
- Kwoya Maples, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Birmingham, AL
- David Oxton, The Governor’s Academy, Byfield, MA
- Kasumi Parker, Hunter College High School, New York, NY
- Brian Rapien, Villa Madonna High School, Villa Hills, KY
- Alan Rossi, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities, Greenville, SC
- Ellon Sears, Rancho Solano Preparatory School, Scottsdale, AZ
- Carly Short, Venice Arts, Venice, CA
- Christine Tieche, A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, West Palm Beach, FL
- Matthew Varey, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
- Holly White, Paideia School, Atlanta, GA
- Connie Willson, Lynbrook High School, San Jose, CA