SOUTH BEND, Ind. - On Saturday, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards announced 12 local students won medals in the national competition.

All national award winners also won Gold Keys at the regional level.

The South Bend Museum of Art coordinates the local awards, jurying, and exhibition for 19 counties across southwest lower Michigan and northwest Indiana.

This year over 1100 local middle and high school students supported by over 110 teachers submitted over 3300 pieces of art to the 2023 Scholastic Art Awards competition.

Local artists who comprised the jury, awarded over 540 Gold and Silver Keys and over 500 honorable mentions for winning pieces of art.

For these young artists, participation in the Scholastic Art Awards marks a major milestone.

The following lists consists of three types of medals the 12 national winners won, their name, and the teacher who supported them.

The American Visions Medal:

● Julianna Rogers, 8th grade Concord Jr High School, teacher Mary Amador-Spradling

Gold Medals:

● Emilia Cabaltica, 10th grade homeschool, teacher Ninette Deliyannides

● Aislin Hunsberger, 11th grade Fairfield Jr Sr High School, teacher Wendi Sparks

● Shaylea LeVeque, 12 grade Clay High School, teacher Jay Love

● Jacob Nava, 10th grade Marian High School, teacher Gina Bonewitz

● Emily Weil, 11th grade Mishawaka High School, teacher, Kathryn Smith

Silver Medals:

● Maile Allen, 9th grade St Joseph High School, teacher Matt Culver

● Madelinn Alwine, 12th grade Elkhart High School, teacher Kevin Hartman

● Aaliyah Hill, 12th grade St Joseph High School, teacher Julie Beam

● Mina Rodriguez Cervantes,8th grade Concord Jr Sr High School, teacher Mary Amador-Spradling

● Alyssa Slabaugh, 11th grade Clay High School, teacher Benjamin Murray

● Lauren Toepp, 12th grade Marian High School, teacher Gina Bonewitz

The South Bend Museum of Art invites the community to the 2023 exhibition for the National Scholastic Art Awards, which is open through April 30, 2023, in the Warner Gallery.

The exhibition is free and open to the public.

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards encouraging creative teens.

Nationally, there are over 260,000 submissions, 100,000 participants, 71,000 awards, 14,300 participating educators, 8100 participating schools and 150 regional partners.