Nominees for the Hawaii Regional Scholastic Art Awards program have been selected — 254 artworks from nearly 200 students representing a range of media: photography, illustration, mixed media, ceramics, sculpture, painting, digital art, printmaking, fashion, jewelry and more. View the full list of nominees here.

The Hawaii State Art Museum will host this dynamic work (some of which can be seen in the above gallery) in an exhibition to run Feb. 24 to April 8.

Students who have been nominated for Gold Key and American Visions awards are eligible for the national awards and scholarship program, which will be announced in March. American Visions represents the highest regional honor in the program for exceptional work.

Some highlights among the nominees:

• 77 HIDOE and 13 charter school students are being honored.
• Leilehua High has 25 students nominated, the most of any public school, including two American Visions nominees.
• Several students earned multiple nominations:
  • Sylvia Lee, a senior at Moanalua High, earned 8 nominations and 5 Gold Keys.
  • Tadum Lee-Reyes, a senior at Castle High, earned 4 nominations, all Gold Keys.
  • Five students earned three nominations: Kathleen Acasio (Leilehua High), Jackie Duliere (Leilehua High), Jing Wen Liang (Roosevelt High), Christina Masutani (Leilehua High) and Tori Wills (Kalaheo High).
  • Twelve students earned two nominations: Kayla Cacatian (Wahiawa Middle), Abigail Mae Calara (Waianae High), Hyo Bin Chun (Roosevelt High), Dezirae Colton-Anacleto (Leilehua High), Aezyah Duncan (Leilehua High), Leilani Kanagawa (Wahiawa Middle), Noah Kochi (Mililani High), Jonathan Lowrie (Mililani High), Josaphine Ladao (Leilehua High), Laynee Pew (Leilehua High), Layla Williams (Aliamanu Middle), and Kotone Utagawa (Kalani High).
• Of the five American Visions nominees, four are from public schools:
  • Kathleen Acasio, senior, Leilehua High, for "Halloween."
  • Christina Masutani, senior, Leilehua High, for "Shinotsukuame (Intense Rain)."
  • Leilani Kanagawa, gr 8, Wahiawa Middle, for "Temptation."
  • Shayden Augustus, sophomore, University Lab School, for "Hope Floats."

About the program

The Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards is the longest-running, largest and most prestigious student recognition program in the United States. The Awards were established in 1923 by M. R. Robinson to encourage, foster, and reward creativity in our Nation’s students. In 1994, the nonprofit organization The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers was established. Its mission is to oversee the national competition, and provide guidance and support for the next generation of artists and writers. Throughout the program’s history, the Awards program has recognized some of our Nation’s most celebrated artists and writers.

Through the Scholastic Awards, teens in grades 7 through 12 from public, private, or home schools can apply in 29 categories​ of art and writing for their chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited and published. Beyond the Awards, the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers produces a number of programs to support creative students and their educators, including the Art.Write.Now.Tour, the National Student Poets Program, the Scholastic Awards Summer Workshops and Scholastic Awards Summer Scholarships programs, the Golden Educators Residency, and much more.

Each year, more than 320,000 entries are submitted to a network of 80 regional sponsors who screen the entries and conduct local exhibitions and award ceremonies. The most outstanding works are awarded the highest honor and receive the American Vision Award Nominee and the Regional Gold Key Finalist. These finalists go on to represent their region in the national judging held in the spring in New York City. Panels of distinguished artists review over 15,000 works of art and select the national award recipients. These recipients receive national recognition and share monetary awards and/or scholarship offered by prestigious colleges, universities and art institutes.​ Learn more.​