From staff reports
Beaufort County School District students have won 56 Southeast regional recognitions in the 2025 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition.
For the first time, nearly every high school in the district was proudly represented. There were three winners at Battery Creek High, three winners at Beaufort High, four winners at Bluffton High, 28 winners at Hilton Head Island High, and 18 at May River High.
The prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards describes itself as the nation’s longest-running recognition program for creative teens and the largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers. Students in Grades 7 through 12 typically submit more than 350,000 works of art and writing in 30 categories. Winning students earn opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships.
The district’s 13 top award-winners – Gold Key recipients – advance to judging at the national level. Silver Key works are judged to demonstrate exceptional ability, and Honorable Mention works are judged to show great skill and potential.
“Let’s take a moment to appreciate the incredible talent of our students, highlighted through platforms like the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Their creativity knows no bounds, and their hard work shines through in every submission,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release. “It’s inspiring to see them express themselves in such unique ways.”
Judges evaluate student artwork based on originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal vision or voice. Former winners of Scholastic Awards include Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Sylvia Plath, and filmmaker Ken Burns.
The Silver Key winner from Battery Creek High School was Ryleigh Severide for “Society of Volt” (Digital Art).
Honorable Mentions from Battery Creek High School were Angela Estrada for “Avatar” (Drawing and Illustration) and Michema Johnson for “Music is my way of therapy” (Drawing and Illustration).
Silver Key winners from Beaufort High School were Hannah Schranz for “A Haunting in 58” (Writing) and Sofia Steen for “Lost” (Drawing and Illustration).
The Honorable Mention from Beaufort High School was Hannah Schranz for “Julia’s Debut” (Writing).
Gold Key winners from Bluffton High School were Alice Alexander for “Sculpting Girlhood” (Art Portfolio) and Kaia Duffy for “Spanish Moss Forest” (Drawing and Illustration).
The Silver Key winner from Bluffton High School was Ruby DuBose for “Alley Adventures” (Photography).
The Honorable Mention from Bluffton High School was Kaia Duffy for “Reborn” (Drawing and Illustration).
Gold Key winners from Hilton Head High were Kelly Bolchoz for “Pain Tolerance” (Writing); Maeve Dolan for “Fading” (Drawing and Illustration); Charlotte Hussey for “The Look” (Photography); Abby Pratt for “Dancing Through Life” (Photography); Suleimy Santos for “Rosa Con Vida” (Fashion); Sienna Schutz for “Colors of Culture” (Mixed Media); Kaia Tolly for “Industry’s Steel Grasp” (Mixed Media) and “Soar” (Sculpture); and Kadence Wolfe for “Layers of Identity” (Digital Art).
Silver Key winners from Hilton Head High were Jayson Arrieta for “Leaf” (Photography); Christopher Garcia-Bruno for “Stranded boat” (Photography); Jasper Grassi for “Bridge” (Photography); Pippa Parsons for “Dancing in the Forest” (Photography); Ixel Pineda for “Life under a microscope” (Art Portfolio); Kaya Tolly for “Wings of Transformation” (Sculpture); and Angel Villeda for “Attraction” (Photography).
Honorable Mentions from Hilton Head High were Kelly Bolchoz for “I will not cross my thumbs when I pray for you,” “Out of all the months in the year,” and “The Tired Old Gnome” (Writing); Jamie Casillo for “The Lady With the Smoke” (Photography); Maeve Dolan for “Aging Gracefully” (Painting); Pippa Parsons for “Lilies” and “On Point” (Photography); Ixel Pineda for “Bloody drops” and “La Musa” (Photography); Chiara Solla for “Fox Eye” (Painting); Kaya Tolly for “Ascendency of Man” (Painting); and Angel Villeda for “Eye Beauty” (Photography).
Gold Key winners from May River High were Haley Mathis for “Serene” (Photography) and Hailey Shupard for “The Circle of Life” (Painting).
Silver Key winners from May River High were Elliana Bowden for “Sugar and Spice” and “The Unseen Side” (Photography); Katherine Donahue for “Girl Reflected” (Painting); Savannah Johns for “Under the Crown” (Photography); Giancarlo Perez for “Bright Bloom” (Photography); Krystal Resendiz for “Portrait” (Photography); and Isabella Robertello for “Floating Bird” (Painting).
Honorable Mentions from May River High were Abigail Hirsch for “Sheep Show” (Mixed Media); Haley Mathis for “Down by the River” (Photography); Isabella Robertello for “Fish and a Boy” (Mixed Media) and “Hand in water” (Painting); Hailey Shupard for “The Pathway” (Painting); Hayden Smith for “Lily Teapot Set” (Ceramics and Glass); Emarie Toirkens for “Mini Dragon Vase” (Ceramics and Glass) and “Nature Enhanced with Glazing Techniques” (Art Portfolio); and Alena Williams for “The Complete Works of Mice” (Writing).
