Beaufort County School District students have won 54 Southeast regional recognitions in the 2016 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition, with 51 of those awards going to students from Hilton Head Island High School.

The prestigious Scholastic Art &amp; 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 submitted more than 320,000 works of art and writing in 28 categories. Winning students earn opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarships.

Hilton Head Island High’s 51 awards included seven Gold Keys, 15 Silver Keys, 28 Honorable Mentions and one Scholastic Writing Award. The top award-winners – Gold Key recipients – advance to judging at the national level.

“These are very prestigious awards, and to earn so many of them is a wonderful reflection of the talents of our students and the quality of our teachers,” said Superintendent Jeff Moss.

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.

Hilton Head Island High’s Gold Key winners were Chase Faulkner, “Enjoying the Sunday Paper: (Sculpture); Alanna Myers, “1st Street” and “Moriarty” (Digital Art); Danny Shaughnessy, “Bass Lake” (Digital Art); Alexandra Tappeiner, “Pyromania: (Digital Art); Alexis Yates, “At the Coast” (Digital Art); and Mariah Anderson, “Cracked” (Photography).

Hilton Head Island High’s Silver Key winners were Val Plasse, “Distance” (Photography); Ally Boys, “Triplets” and “Kitty Bot” (Sculpture); Junior Aedo, “Piano Competition” (Design); Eric Hunter, “Station 5 Logo” (Digital Art); Emma North, “The Keen Gaze” (Digital Art); Cade Saenz, “Hot Streak” (Digital Art); Brian Serrano, “Metastasizing Heart,” “Landscape” and “Happiness” (Digital Art); Danny Shaughnessy, “Light and Dark” and “Flaming Talon” (Digital Art); Alexis Yates, “Scarlett” (Digital Art); Johanna Moncada, “Badgalriri” (Digital Art); and Johanna Moncada, “Words from the Wise” (Film and Animation).

Beaufort High student Giammona Ashton won a Silver Key for “Miss Metamorphis” (Drawing and Illustration).

Battery Creek High School student Annette Burkey won an Honorable Mention for “Silent Tears” (Digital Art).

Bluffton High School student Ever Moreno won a Silver Key for “Out of the Window” (Drawing and Illustration).