Sage Ridge School sets record with 21 Scholastic Art Award Winners in 2025

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards hold a unique and distinguished place in arts education in the United States. Founded in 1923, they are the oldest arts-based scholarship competition in the country, with a legacy spanning more than a century. The Awards were created to identify, celebrate, and support young artists and writers whose work demonstrates originality, technical skill, and the development of a strong personal voice. Over the decades, the Scholastic Art Awards have recognized countless students who have gone on to become influential artists, designers, writers, and cultural leaders, making the program a nationally respected benchmark of excellence in student creative achievement.

At Sage Ridge School, the visual arts play a vital role in the development of the whole child. The arts are not treated as extracurricular or secondary, but as a core component of an education that prepares students to become thoughtful, engaged, and capable adults. 

“Through sustained artistic practice, students learn how to explore complex ideas, take intellectual risks, and communicate meaning in powerful and nuanced ways,” says Nicole Ashton, Department Chair and Visual Art/Media Faculty at Sage Ridge School. “As Sage Ridge students grow into adults and move out into the world, they carry with them the ability to think critically, adapt creatively, and approach challenges with curiosity and confidence skills that are essential for doing truly amazing things in any field.”

Critical Thinking & Conceptual Development

Central to arts education at Sage Ridge is a strong emphasis on critical thinking and conceptual development. Students are encouraged not only to make visually compelling work, but to ask meaningful questions, investigate personal and societal themes, and articulate intent through their art. 

“This focus on concept, process, and reflection helps cultivate next-level thinkers and doers, individuals who can synthesize ideas, problem-solve creatively, and contribute thoughtfully to our society,” says Ashton. “The habits of a mind developed in the studio translate far beyond the arts, supporting success in academics, leadership, and future careers.”

A Record Year of Art Recognition

This year, Sage Ridge School students submitted a total of 52 works to the Scholastic Art Awards, earning an impressive 21 State Art Awards. 

“This level of recognition is truly phenomenal,” said Dr. Ginger Hovenic, Head of School. “The percentage of awarded works speaks not only to the talent of the students, but also to the strength, rigor, and intentionality of the visual arts program as a whole.”

Scholastic Recognitions: Artist and Art Title

American Vision Nominee - Gold Key

• Anastasia Treadway ‘27 - Halfway Across The World From Home

Gold Key 

• Sam Browder ‘26 - Evolution of Decomposition
• Sonia Heuer ‘27 - Regalia Equinus
• Wes Kennedy ‘27 - Line Bundles
• Rowdy Miller ‘27 - Grown from the Heart
• Anastasia Treadway ‘27 - The Oceans Harvest

Silver Key 

• Charlie Anderson ‘29 - Searching Amidst Conflict
• Charlie Anderson ‘29’ - Deteriorating Memories of a Time Once Past
• Charlie Anderson ‘29 - Heartstrings
• Ashley Friedman ‘27 - Adaptability
• Morgan Hayes ‘26 - One Moment in Time
• Owen Heaphy ‘27 - Social Contract
• Anastasia Treadway ‘27 - BlueBeam Patch
• Anastasia Treadway ‘27 - Memories of Lilies
• Anastasia Treadway ‘27 - The Forgotten Woman

Honorable Mention

• Viola Charles ‘28 - Fin-Omenon
• Kaylee Folsom ‘26 - Cognition
• Owen Heaphy ‘27 - DOTOG
• Sonia Heuer ‘27 - Warlock
• Tri Huynh ‘27 - The Split Self
• Abigail Napoli ‘26 - Divine Windows

The Sage Ridge Difference: Art Taught by Tenured, Trained Experts in the Field

What makes the Sage Ridge School arts program exceptional is its commitment to professional-level practice and academic depth. 

All Upper School art courses are taught at a college level, with high expectations for craftsmanship, concept, and discipline. Students work exclusively with professional-grade materials and are exposed to a broad range of classes and media, allowing them to explore both traditional and contemporary approaches to artmaking. 

Just as importantly, students study the history and philosophy of art, learning how their work fits into a larger cultural and historical context. They are taught how to write about their work, present it professionally, and engage in regular critiques and exhibitions, essential skills for any practicing artist or creative professional.

Through this rigorous, immersive, and supportive environment, Sage Ridge School empowers students to develop their voices, refine their skills, and understand the impact of their creative work. 

The success at the Scholastic Art Awards is a reflection of this philosophy in action, celebrating not only outstanding student artwork, but the transformative power of arts education when it is taught with intention, depth, and purpose.