For the 2021-22 academic year, 28 WHS students won a total of 42 awards including 1 national Silver Medal, 9 Gold Keys, 11 Silver Keys, and 21 Honorable Mentions in the 2022 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards. All Gold Key recipients’ work is automatically entered into national judging in New York City for the chance at winning a gold or silver medal as well as scholarships. An award ceremony for national medalists will be held at Carnegie Hall in May.

Over the past 96 years, the Scholastic Art Awards have honored the artistic vision of students across the nation. Wayzata Public Schools has a distinguished tradition of students who create and submit their artwork to the program.

The Scholastic Art Awards are designed to foster creative expression by secondary students and to recognize and encourage achievement in the creative arts by offering visibility and scholarships. The awards represent work from a broad range of art disciplines including animation, drawing, design, digital art, painting, crafts, sculpture, and photography.

This year, 17 students won 28 awards including five Gold Keys, seven Silver Keys and 16 Honorable Mentions in the Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards.

Over the past 96 years, the Scholastic Art Awards have honored the artistic vision of students across the nation. Wayzata Public Schools has a distinguished tradition of students who create and submit their artwork to the program.

The Scholastic Art Awards are designed to foster creative expression by secondary students and to recognize and encourage achievement in the creative arts by offering visibility and scholarships. The awards represent work from a broad range of art disciplines including animation, drawing, design, digital art, painting, crafts, sculpture and photography.

This year, 56 Wayzata High School students won 75 awards including 18 Gold Keys, 22 Silver Keys and 35 Honorable Mentions in the annual Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards competition.

Over the past 95 years, the Scholastic Art Awards have honored the artistic vision of students across the nation. Wayzata Public Schools has a distinguished tradition of students who create and submit their artwork to the program.

The Scholastic Art Awards are designed to foster creative expression by secondary students and to recognize and encourage achievement in the creative arts by offering visibility and scholarships.

The awards represent work from a broad range of art disciplines including: animation, drawing, design, digital art, painting, crafts, sculpture and photography.

The 2018 Minnesota Scholastic Art Award Gold Key recipients include:

• Ryan Brewer for Design.
• Aidan Burke for Drawing Portfolio. Aidan also received an Honorable Mention for Photo Portfolio.
• Ritika Chakrabarti for Drawing. Ritika also received an Honorable Mention for Panting and an Honorable Mention for Drawing.
• Margaret Curtis for Ceramics. Margaret also received two Silver Keys for Ceramics.
• Laurier Dubeau for Drawing Portfolio.
• Isabella Hackley for Design.
• Anna Ingemann received two Gold Keys for Digital Art. Anna also received two Silver Keys for Painting.
• Nick Lyman for Digital Art.
• Lucas Nygren for Sculpture. Lucas also received a National Silver Medal for his sculpture, “Dream Tree”.
• Victoria Palamarchuk for Digital Art.
• Avery Paulsen for Ceramics.
• Natalia Poteryakhin received a Gold Key for Animation and a Gold Key for Comic. Natalia also received a National Gold Medal for Film & Animation entry, “Thaw”.
• Julianna Prohofsky for Ceramics.
• Kristen Swenson for Design. Kristin also received a Silver Key for Design.
• Katarina Testerman for Drawing Portfolio.
• Hailey Woolf for Digital Art.

Wayzata High School students have won 76 awards in the 2017 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards, the longest-running, most prestigious national art competition.

The awards are broken into three categories: Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention. Over 4,000 submissions were submitted this year with students at Wayzata High School winning 20 Gold Keys,16 Silver Keys and 40 Honorable Mentions.

Gold Key: John Bernhardt (design), Evelyn Birnbaum (drawing), Jasmine Brewer (design), Frank Fetrow (design), Maddie Francis (design), Emily Fricke (drawing), Grace Julian (ceramics), Kass Mossefin (animation), Maria Palomino Espinosa (drawing portfolio), Maria Palomino Espinosa (drawing), Natalia Poteryakhin (comic), Natalia Poteryakhin * (digital art), Claire Reid (drawing), Claire Reid (drawing), Claire Reid (animation), Olivia Roberts (sculpture), Katarina Testerman (drawing), Rachel Theiste (drawing), Madelyn Wood (drawing) and Chris Zarriello (digital art)

Silver Key: Evelyn Birnbaum (painting), Jasmine Brewer (animation), Jasmine Brewer (design), Tatiana Gostomski (ceramics), Yilan Gu (photography), Brooks Hanson (ceramics), Maddi Heidelberg (photography), Katie Hoy (photography), Lauren Leaseburg (sculpture), Avery Paulsen (ceramics), Claire Reid (design), Claire Reid (drawing), Rachel Saunders (ceramics), Rachel Saunders (ceramics) and Madelyn Wood (drawing)

Honorable Mentions: Evelyn Birnbaum (drawing), Evelyn Birnbaum (drawing), Anna Brew (ceramics), Anna Brew (ceramics), Kalie Debelak (drawing), Laurier Dubeau (drawing), Brianne Edgar (drawing), Brianne Edgar (drawing), Anastasia Friesen (ceramics), Nathan Hall (jewelry), Nathan Hall (wire sculpture), Samantha Haux (drawing), Carly Imgrund (design), Anna Ingemann (painting), Anna Ingemann (painting), Madi Johnson (digital art), Madi Johnson (digital art), Grace Julian (ceramics), Nicole Krentz (drawing), Jenna Larson (photography), Purvaja Marella (drawing), Murphy McKee (sculpture), McKenzie Murray (drawing), Maria Palomino Espinosa (design), Sara Pauly (design), Sara Pauly (photography), Hannah Polzin (ceramics), Julianna Prohofsky (ceramics), Ali-Reza Rizwani (ceramics), Rachel Saunders (ceramics), Jin Savageau (drawing), Elizabeth Simon (photography), Jane Speier (ceramics), Jane Speier (ceramics), Sydney Stern (design), Sydney Stern (digital art), John Taylor (sculpture), Sophia Urban (ceramics), Holly Weatherson (design), Madelyn Wood (drawing) and Zoie Zimmerman (digital art/photography)

* Natalia Poteryakhin also received a $3,500 scholarship for the Minnesota College of Art and Design.

Gold Key award-winning work is automatically entered into the National Awards competition in New York. National awards will be presented at Carnegie Hall in May.

The exhibition of student artwork was on display at the Regis Center for Art on the University of Minnesota campus and students received their awards at a ceremony held at the Weisman Art Museum on Saturday, February 18. The award-winning works are currently on display in Wayzata High Schools' Fine Arts display case in the D-Wing of the building.

2017 Scholastic Art Awards

Wayzata High School students have won 43 awards in the 2016 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards, the longest-running, most prestigious national art competition.

The Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards is broken into three categories: Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention. Over 4,000 submissions were submitted this year with students at Wayzata High School winning 14 Gold Keys, 13 Silver Keys and 16 Honorable Mention.

Gold: Kai Dranchak (drawing), Laurier Dubeau (drawing), Frank Fetrow (design), Kass Mossefin* (design), Maria Palamino (drawing), Sara Pauly (digital art), Rachel Pearson (drawing), Mariah Schmidt (drawing), Claire Reid (painting), and Zoie Zimmerman (digital art)

Silver: Heidi Donner (photography), Joe Kottke (photography), Katie Mehr (drawing), Maria Palomino (drawing), Sara Pauly (photography), Rachel Pearson (drawing), Claire Reid (painting and drawing), Mariah Schmidt (drawing and illustration), and Marali Singaraju (photography), and Rebecca Wallinga (design).

Honorable Mention: Mandy Behling (ceramics), Evelyn Birnbaum (drawing), Frank Fetrow (design), Jillian Hamer (painting), Jeff Johnson (design), Katie Mehr (drawing), Alexandra Morris (drawing), Noelle Polis (ceramics), Kate Van Horn (drawing), Anna Van Orsow (design), Rebecca Wallinga (design), Madelyn Wood (painting), and Mariah Schmidt (drawing).

Gold Key award-winning work is automatically entered into the National Awards competition in New York. Senior Mariah Schmidt received a national silver medal in drawing and illustration. National awards will be presented at Carnegie Hall in May.

The exhibition of student artwork was on display at the Regis Center for Art on the University of Minnesota campus and students received their awards at a ceremony held at the Weisman Art Museum on Saturday, February 20. The award winning works are currently on display in Wayzata High Schools’ Fine Arts display case in the D-Wing of the building.

* Kassandra Mossefin also received a $3,500 summer scholarship to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

2016 Scholastic Art Awards

Wayzata High School students have won 80 awards in the annual 2015 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards, the longest-running, most prestigious national art competition.

The Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards is broken into three categories: Gold Keys, Silver Keys and Honorable Mention. Students at Wayzata High School won 23 Gold Keys, 18 Silver Keys and 39 Honorable Mentions – an unprecedented number of awards for Wayzata and the most awards presented to a school in the state.

Gold Key award-winning work will automatically be entered into the National Awards competition in New York. National medal recipients will be announced mid-March and awards will be presented at Carnegie Hall in May.

The exhibition of student artwork was on display at the Regis Center for Art on the University of Minnesota campus and is currently on display in Wayzata High Schools’ Fine Arts display case in the D-Wing of the building.

Gold Key Winners
Aubrianna Ackerman, Anna Calingaert, Sarah Alexander, Heidi Donner, Kira Dranchak Hannah Heiring, Elizabeth Hienz, Martin Johnson, Katherine Knacke, Frederic Lin, Cassidy Lindahl, Haley McNiff, Isabel Milano, Mary Mueffelmann, Connor Olson, Owen Rahm, Claire Reid, Mariah Schmidt, Isack Strempke and Tiffany Zarriello

Silver Key Winners
Adrienne Barrier, Avery Beltrand, Payton Des Lauriers, Kira Dranchak, Rachel Gessner, Mara Gosch, Jack Ile, Gabriella Kinney, Taylor Leis, Haley McNiff, Isabel Milano, Ian Neville, Claire Reid, Mariah Schmidt, Carly Schweitzer, Catherine Vladykina, Erika Wang, Holly Weatherson and Tiffany Zarriello

Honorable Mention
Aubrianna Ackerman, Adrienne Barrier, Kathryn Blake, Jana Blomberg, Anna Calingaert, Anne Christill, Kira Dranchak, Alison Engeriser, Frank Fetrow, Garrett Finn, Rachel Gessner, Paige Goedderz, Maria Gosch, Hannah Heiring, Martin Johnson, Gabriella Kinney, Katherine Knacke, Katelyn Krebsbach, Angela Ku, Grace Leinberger, Roselynd Lin, Cassidy Lindahl, Dana McNevin, Haley McNiff, Jessie Meng, Genna Nygren, Charlie Proops, Abby Pettengill, Claire Reid, Broderick Stout, Hannah Sutton, Jeenue Vang, Catherine Vladykina and Orien Zeng

2015 Scholastic Art Awards

Alice Hu, grade 12, won the American Visions Medal for the category of drawing. The medium used is charcoal. She is invited to attend the National Ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York on June 6, 2014. Click on the image to the left to view it full-sized.

Thirty-six students from Wayzata High School won 2013-14 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards with 9 students taking top honors.

In the category of digital art, senior Allison Long and sophomores Kira Dranchak and A.J. Yablonsky earned Silver Key awards. Seniors Leah Anderson and Hannah Vogel, sophomores Emil Ebrahimi and A.J. Yablonsky and freshman Jack Rothstein earned honorable mentions.

In the category of drawing, Gold Key awards were earned by senior Margaret Anderson for seven drawings; Alice Hu for one painting, two drawings and her art portfolio; senior Erin Jenum for two drawings; and senior Sophia Zhang for her art portfolio; juniors Allison Engeriser for one drawing and Bella Roussanov for one drawing. Silver Key awards were earned by senior Margaret Anderson for two drawings and one painting; senior Erin Jenum for one drawing; senior Sarah Nelson for one drawing; senior Maggie Scanlon for one drawing; and senior Sophia Zhang for one drawing; junior Katheryn Blake for one drawing; junior Bella Roussanov for one drawing and one painting; and sophomore Christine Kim for one drawing. Honorable mentions were earned by senior Margaret Anderson for three drawings; senior Elizabeth Batman for two drawings; senior Alex Blake for one drawing; senior Alice Hu for one painting; senior Joseph Silbaugh for printmaking; and senior Sophia Zhang for two drawings; junior Alisson Engeriser for two drawings and one printmaking; junior Katelyn Krebsbach for one printmaking; junior Haley McNiff for one drawing; junior Bella Roussanov for one painting; junior Elisa Simmons for one drawing; and junior Lindsey Turner for one drawing; sophomore Kira Dranchak for one drawing and sophomore Jennifer Radermacher for one drawing.

In the category of painting, senior Priya Tuttle earned a Gold Key award and seniors Elizabeth Batman and Alice Hu earned honorable mentions.

In the category of 3D Design, freshman Zach Spiczka earned a Gold Key award, senior Joshua Meade and freshman Morgan Cowle earned Silver Key awards.

In the category of ceramics, senior Grant Johnson earned a Silver Key award and senior Michelle Gaveske earned two honorable mentions.

In the category of Design, junior Bobby Frazzini earned a Gold Key award; sophomore Annika Kohrt earned a Silver Key award; senior Allison Engeriser earned an honorable mention; senior Katie Klopfenstein earned an honorable mention; senior Jordan Yasmineh earned an honorable mention; sophomore Kaden Dohm earned an honorable mention; and sophomore Owen Rahm earned an honorable mention.

In the category of Animation, junior Kira Dranchak earned a Silver Key award.

2014 Scholastic Art Awards

Three students from Wayzata High School won National Scholastic Art Awards for their artwork.

Sophomore Bella Roussanov won a national gold medal in the category of drawing for her work titled “Grandfather” and junior Maggie Anderson won a national silver medal in the category of drawing for her work titled “Noise.” Senior Emily Abe won a national silver medal in the category of digital art for her work titled “Guardian” and received a $500 scholarship to Stout.

34 WHS Students Win Minnesota Scholastic Art Award

Thirty-four students from Wayzata High School won 2012-13 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards with 15 students taking top honors.

In the category of digital art, senior Emily Abe earned a Gold Key award. Silver Key awards were earned by senior Perry Windt (with two awards); and junior Hildanya Dang. Honorable mentions were earned by juniors Holly Cannon and Jenny Flanery; and sophomore Isabel Milano.

In the category of drawing, Gold Key awards were earned by seniors Tessa Hysjulien and Jessica Lund; junior Margaret Anderson and sophomore Bella Roussanov. Silver Key awards were earned by seniors Kaitlin Hackett and Tessa Hysjulien; juniors Margaret Anderson and Priya Tuttle; and sophomore Bella Roussanov.

In the category of ceramics, Gold Key awards were earned by seniors Rachel Aufdembrink and William Nafstad (with two awards). A Silver Key award was earned by senior Jacob Stufft. Honorable Mentions were earned by seniors Elizabeth Reding, Jacob Stufft and Shelby Weaver. Weaver also earned an honorable mention for her entire ceramics portfolio.

In the category of photography, Gold Key awards were earned by senior Hannah Devens; juniors Amy Caswell and Hildanya Dang; and sophomores Rebecca Kravchenko and Sonia Neculescu. A Silver Key award was earned by sophomore Sarah Paul. Honorable Mentions were earned by seniors Caroline Arkesteyn, Hannah Devens and Conor Lake; junior Haley Pysick; sophomores Rachel Moore and Sarah Paul; and freshman Olivia Brandel.

In the category of sculpture, junior Michelle Gaveske earned a Gold Key award and senior Jake Adler earned a Silver Key award.

In the category of jewelry, senior Kaitlin Hackett earned a Gold Key award and senior Caroline Close earned an Honorable Mention.

In the category of film and animation, junior Jordan Yasmineh earned a Gold Key award.

In the category of comic art, freshman Kira Dranchak and sophomore Isabel Milano earned Silver Key awards.

In the category of printmaking, senior Kaitlin Hackett earned a Silver Key award.

2013 Scholastic Art Awards

Twenty-three students from Wayzata High School won 2011-12 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards with eight students taking top honors.

In the category of digital art, senior Jon Leininger earned a silver key award, junior Austin Smythe earned an honorable mention and freshman Lindsey Turner earned an honorable mention.

In the category of ceramics, Gold Key awards were earned by seniors Alec Almquist, Emily Andres and Elizabeth Haas. Silver Key awards were earned by seniors Alec Almquist, Sam Blake and Jessica Kay. Honorable mentions were also awarded to Almquist, Haas, and Kay.

In the category of jewelry, senior Abigail Haselman earned a Silver Key award.

In the category of photography, junior Ana Cristina Plansky earned a Gold Key award.

In the category of drawing, Gold Key awards were earned by seniors Sean Hawkinson and Katie Cornille, sophomore Tessa Hysjulien and freshman Jenica Zhong. Silver Key awards were earned by seniors Katie Cornille and Caitlin Ellsworth, junior Kaitlin Hackett and freshman Jenica Zhong. Honorable mentions were awarded to seniors Hannah Fazendin, Sarah Brooks and Ulysses Sibomana and junior Joe Silbaugh.

In the category of painting, an honorable mention was awarded to junior Christina Gu.

In the category of mixed media, honorable mentions were awarded to juniors Kaitlin Hackett and Paige Spry.

2012 Scholastic Art Awards

Twenty-three students from Wayzata High School won 2011-12 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards with eight students taking top honors.

In the category of digital art, senior Jon Leininger earned a silver key award, junior Austin Smythe earned an honorable mention and freshman Lindsey Turner earned an honorable mention.

In the category of ceramics, Gold Key awards were earned by seniors Alec Almquist, Emily Andres and Elizabeth Haas. Silver Key awards were earned by seniors Alec Almquist, Sam Blake and Jessica Kay. Honorable mentions were also awarded to Almquist, Haas, and Kay.

In the category of jewelry, senior Abigail Haselman earned a Silver Key award.

In the category of photography, junior Ana Cristina Plansky earned a Gold Key award.

In the category of drawing, Gold Key awards were earned by seniors Sean Hawkinson and Katie Cornille, sophomore Tessa Hysjulien and freshman Jenica Zhong. Silver Key awards were earned by senior Caitlin Ellsworth, junior Kaitlin Hackett and freshman Jenica Zhong

2011 Scholastic Art Awards

Thirteen students from Wayzata High School won Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards in 2010 with two students taking top honors.

Seniors Elizabeth Peterschmidt and Jeffrey Tuura won Gold Key awards for their entire portfolio.Tuura also won a Gold Key award for an individual entry.

Silver Key winners for individual entries were seniors Kaesha Baloch, Sarah Birkholz, Zoe Leschak, Erika Pieniniemi, Jeremy Pieniniemi, Ashley Mattson and Browyn Sherman; junior Emma Bitterman; and freshman Ana Cristina Plansky.

Awards of Merit were earned by seniors Kristen Andersen, Elly Leuthold, Jeremy Pieniniemi, Mattson; and Freshman Plansky.

More than 1,100 submissions were made to 16 visual arts categories in the competition which includes separate contests for students in grades seven through nine and grades 10 through 12. Gold Key award-winning work will automatically be entered in the national competition in New York, where panels of prestigious members of the arts and education communities will judge the entries for technical proficiency, originality and emergence of personal style or vision.

MCAD administers the Minnesota Scholastic program and provides an exhibition of all the entered art. The free exhibition, featuring more than 200 works runs from January 22 to February 21 in the MCAD gallery’s Concourse Gallery. An awards ceremony will be held February 21 at 3 p.m. in the MCAD Auditorium 150.

2011 Scholastic Art Awards