The Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science & Art, in affiliation with the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, announces the 2026 Scholastic Art Awards American Vision Nominees, Gold Key Award winners, Silver Key Award winners and Honorable Mention for the Northeastern PA Region. An exhibition of all award-winning work will be held at the museum through March 1.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, established in 1923, is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious art and writing recognition program for students in grades seven through 12. The Everhart has hosted the arts portion of the competition for the Northeastern PA Region since 2018, judging entries and holding an exhibition for award recipients. For 2026, the museum received more than 500 submissions of artwork from junior and senior high school students from over 40 schools within a 15-county area, exceeding previous years’ totals.

The awards in order of prestige are American Vision Nominee, Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention. All Regional Gold Key Award recipients move on to the national competition to compete for a National Gold Key Award. Five of the Northeastern PA Region Gold Key Award recipients were recognized as American Visions Nominees, which automatically advances them to the national competition to compete for an American Visions Award for their region.

American Vision Nominee: Casper Karr, “Casper’s Blue Period,” drawing, grade 11, Northwest Area Jr./Sr. High School

Gold Key Awards: Aurora Carey, “Sam & Ella,” painting, grade 12, Wilkes-Barre Area High School/Creative and Performing Arts Academy; Casper Karr, “Casper’s Blue Period” and “Let Yourself Grow,” drawings, grade 11, Northwest Area Jr./Sr. High School; Evie Yanaitis, “Mrs. Raven’s Enigma,” painting, grade 12, Wilkes-Barre Area High School/CAPAA.

Silver Key Awards: Arimeya Janov, “Silenced,” painting, grade 10, Wilkes-Barre Area School District/CAPAA

Honorable Mention: Serenity Drew, “Layered,” painting, grade 11, Wilkes-Barre Area School District/CAPAA; Sophia Golanoski, “Beach Day,” painting, grade 10, and “The Lost Dog,” drawing, grade 10, Dallas Senior High School; Orliemily Medina Padron, “Sloth Dance Party,” painting, grade nine, Wilkes-Barre Area School District/CAPAA; Fiona Piazza, “Mom,” printmaking, grade 12, Dallas Senior High School; Levi Walski, “I’m Sorry, Your Book Is Overdue,” painting, grade 12, Wilkes-Barre Area School District/CAPAA.