Scholastic Art & Writing

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Gold Medal is the highest honor within the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program, jointly administered by Scholastic Inc. and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. With a history spanning over 100 years, it is one of the most prestigious youth creative arts and writing competitions in the United States.

Competition Structure
Students first compete at the regional level, where outstanding works may receive Gold Key awards. Gold Key recipients advance to national adjudication, where National Gold and Silver Medals are awarded. The National Gold Medal represents the highest level of achievement in its category nationwide.

Categories
The competition is divided into two main tracks: Visual Arts and Writing. Visual Arts includes drawing, painting, photography, digital art, sculpture, film, animation, fashion, and architecture. Writing includes short story, poetry, personal essay, dramatic script, and critical essay.

Judging Criteria
Works are evaluated based on originality, technical skill, artistic expression, and conceptual depth. National Gold Medals are awarded to works considered among the most outstanding in the country.

Academic and Artistic Value
This award represents national-level excellence in creative expression and is one of the most prestigious honors for high school students in the arts and writing fields in the United States.

Impact on College Applications
Highly influential for applications in fine arts, design, creative writing, and humanities, especially for Ivy League and top art schools. It is widely recognized as evidence of exceptional creative talent at the national level.