Twenty-one current Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science students won forty-seven Scholastic Art & Writing awards for their literary works. All regional winners have been invited to the Regional Awards Ceremony on April 14 to receive their awards at the Eudora Welty House and Gardens in Jackson. The works of the eleven Gold Key Award winners (Christian Couvillion, Ryley Fallon, Victoria Gong, Catherine Li, Michelle Luo, Indu Nandula, Helen Peng, Sarah Perry, Sophie Tipton, Victoria Waller, and Audrey Wohlscheid) will advance to national adjudication. The National Medalists will be announced on March 13 and will be recognized in part at the National Ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Emma Richardson, MSMS English Instructor expressed, “It’s gratifying that readers and judges beyond our school recognize the excellence in our students’ work.” She added, “Winning awards in the Scholastic Writing & Art Awards program, the oldest and most prestigious writing competition for high school students in the United States, is validation of the good work our students produce.” All winners are students of Mrs. Emma Richardson’s Creative Writing classes.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program is the oldest and most prestigious writing competition for high school students in America.
AMERICAN VOICES NOMINEES
Catherine Li—Poetry: A Blend of Two Cultures
Indu Nandula— Personal Essay/Memoir: Red Birds & Potato Curry
SENIOR PORTFOLIO WINNERS
Victoria Gong–-Gold Key – toasted marshmallows and gochi seeds
GOLD KEY WINNERS
Christian Couvillion—Personal Essay/Memoir Kick Kick Kaboom Boom
Ryley Fallon—Personal Essay/Memoir: “Lip-Plumping Lip Gloss and North Carolina”
Short Story: Lucille Hammond’s Magic
Victoria Gong— Short Story: Game of Life
Catherine Li—Poetry A Blend of Two Cultures
Michelle Luo –Flash Fiction Mud Dauber | Poetry closed eyes
Indu Nandula— Personal Essay/Memoir Red Birds & Potato Curry
Helen Peng— Poetry Chinaman; Lonely
Sarah Perry— Poetry a brother; fourth of july; summertime
Sophie Tipton— Short Story All the Way Home
Victoria Waller—Personal Essay/Memoir Second Belly-Button
Audrey Wohlscheid—Personal Essay/Memoir Real Death Experiences
SILVER KEY WINNERS
Landon Alexander— Short Story: Leaving Home
Aja Ceesay— Personal Essay/Memoir: Be Grateful
Morgan Emokpae—Poetry: Organic Organism
Ryley Fallon—Poetry: “A Golden Arm”
Chylar Gibson—Poetry: Beautiful Sister; One Sound
Victoria Gong– Flash Fiction: Monsoon Season
Journalism: ‘Lady Bird’ and the Teenage Condition
Personal Essay/Memoir: Knockout
Poetry: whalesong; White Picket Fences
Short Story: Medea; portrait of drowning youth, summer 1937 River Gordon—Poetry: Heat
Neziah Igwebuike—Poetry: December
Michelle Luo– Short Story: Indian Highway Poetry wrought iron woman
Jessikah Morton—Poetry: It’s Not Just Me
Indu Nandula—Personal Essay/Memoir: The Picture I See Poetry The Old Guitarist
Helen Peng— Flash Fiction: Saigon
Poetry: The Creek Beside San Marcos Drive; Watermelons
Mildred Perdue—Poetry: Dear Mr. President
Madison Wypyski—Short Story: Heath Ledger and Hip-Hugging Jeans; Virginia Slims and Irish Spring
HONORABLE MENTION WINNERS
Morgan Emokpae— Poetry Aint Edna
Victoria Gong— Personal Essay/Memoir: Confessions of a Masochist
Poetry: graham bell; grandma mangosteen; maria; Signals
Neziah Igwebuike—Poetry: Mary of Nazareth
Michelle Luo— Poetry: Palette
Jessikah Morton—Poetry: He’s a Window Washer
Indu Nandula— Personal Essay/Memoir: Learning
Helen Peng— Poetry: Dear Mississippi; Paper Cranes
Likhitha Polepalli—Personal Essay/Memoir: Embracing Myself
Madison Wypyski—Poetry: Marlboro Burns