Exonians reel in national writing, art honors

Among the nearly 320,000 original works of art and writing submitted to the 2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards committee, the work of 19 Exeter students rose to the top. Together, they were awarded 26 national medals in awards announced this week.

Ayush Noori ’20 won three gold medals, including the Gold Medal Portfolio award, given to just 16 graduating seniors and which includes a $10,000 scholarship. Felix Yeung ’21 was also awarded three medals: two silver and one gold American Voices Medal for his efforts. The American Voices Medal is given to one writer from each region across the country. Mai Hoang ’20 received special recognition as well, winning two medals: one silver and one silver medal with distinction, which includes a $1,000 scholarship.

Since 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have celebrated the creative talents of teen writers and artists in grades 7-12. Past honorees include artist Cy Twombly; writers Sylvia Plath, Bernard Malamud and Joyce Carol Oates; photographer Richard Avedon; actors Robert Redford, John Lithgow and Lena Dunham; and filmmakers Ken Burns and Richard Linklater.

A ceremony honoring gold and special achievement award medalists is scheduled to be held at Carnegie Hall in New York City in June.

Here are the 2020 Exeter honorees:

• Elanor Andreassen ’22,  1 gold, 1 silver
• Anne Brandes ’21,  1 gold
• Lucy Cai ’21, 1 silver
• Caitlyn Chen ’22, 1 silver
• Daniel Chen ’22, 1 gold, 1 silver
• Kaylee Chen ’23, 1 gold
• Christine Chung ‘22, 1 gold
• Yeonjae Eom ’22, 1 silver
• Mai Hoang ’20, 1 silver, 1 silver with distinction
• Junkyeong Lee, ’21 1 silver
• Isa Matsubayashi, ’21, 1 silver
• Ayush Noori ’20, 3 gold
• Maxine Park ’22, 1 silver
• Claudia Sanchez ’20, 1 silver
• Tatum Schutt ’20, 2 golds
• Kendrah Su ’22, 1 gold,  1 silver
• Danielle  J. Sung ’22, 1 gold
• Samantha Weil ’20, 1 gold
• Felix Yeung ’21, 2 silver, 1 gold  American Voices medal