2026 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Middle and Upper School Dragons Receive Impressive Distinction
The John Cooper School proudly celebrates a remarkable group of Middle and Upper School students recognized in this year’s Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Across divisions and genres, Dragons demonstrated originality, depth, and creative excellence in poetry, journalism, fiction, personal narrative, and film.
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. Gold Key recipients advance to national adjudication.
Gold Key Recipients
- Isabella Attwood '27, Photography
- Zuri Bryson '26, Film
- Grayson Glick '27, Photography
- Alison Mitton '26, Art Portfolio
- Simran Patel '26, two Gold Keys in Photography
- Niharika Ranawat '30, Short Story
- Davis Ruckman '27, Photography
- Simon Schapiro '26, Photography
- Ariel Winston '26, Graphic Design
- Aizah Zaidi '27, Poetry
- Kaitlyn Zhang '28, Poetry
- Helena Linsenmeier '27, Personal Essay and Memoir
Silver Key Recipients
- Savannah Brents '27, Ceramics
- Andrew Fote '29, Photography
- Pranjal Gupta '28, Photography
- Julieta Martinez '30, Poetry
- Alison Mitton '26, Three Silver Keys in Painting
- Davis Ruckman '27, Photography
- Ria Rapaka '29, Novel and Poetry
- Christopher Zhang '26, Experimental Photography
- Aizah Zaidi '27, Mixed Media
- Kaitlyn Zhang '28, Personal Essay/Memoir and Short Story
- Helena Linsenmeier '27, Flash Fiction and Poetry
- Daria Tishkova-Roberts '30, Poetry
Honorable Mention Recipients
- Andrew Fote '29, Photography
- Madeline Fitzpatrick '27, Sculpture
- Ana Henners-Grainger '26, Sculpture
- Claire Keiser '26, Digital Painting
- Aetna Lin '28, Poetry
- Helena Linsenmeier '27, One Short Story and Two Poetry
- Landry Marruchella '28, Digital Painting
- Alison Mitton '26, Two Honorable Mentions in Painting
- Alisha Qureshi '26, Ceramics
- Luca Riveros '26, Photography
- Mariana Castillo '27, Journalism
- Brayden Wass '27, Two Honorable Mentions in Graphic Design and Photography
- Ariel Winston '26, Graphic Design
- Esther Winston '29, Painting
- Kaitlyn Zhang '28, Poetry
These honors reflect the strength of Cooper’s writing program across divisions. In classrooms that foster thoughtful analysis, creative risk taking, and authentic voice, students are encouraged to develop their craft and share stories that matter.
Please join us in congratulating these talented Dragons for representing The John Cooper School community with creativity, courage, and distinction.
The John Cooper School
From Curiosity to Wisdom
The John Cooper School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory day school. Our mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
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