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February 26, 2026
Several Maine West Students Named Scholastic Art Awards Recipients

Maine West Scholastic

Written by Communications Department Intern Dalesha Jeanty

The Scholastic Awards are the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens, and a large source of scholarships for young artists and writers in the United States and Canada. Teens in grades 7-12, 13 years or older, are eligible to enter their original writing and artwork for a chance at recognition, publication, exhibition and more. 

The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the non-profit organization that administers the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, partners with more than 100 Affiliate Partners across the country that host the Awards in their community.

The public is invited to attend the opening reception of the awards on Wednesday, April 8 at 6 p.m. at Columbia College Chicago – Student Center (754 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605). 

This year more than 250,000 works of art and writing were submitted nationally. In the Chicago Region, over 2,000 works from over 1,000 artists representing almost 200 art educators were submitted for adjudication. 

The District 207 Fine Arts Departments are proud to share that its student artists won a total of 56 awards, including one Best of Show, six Gold Key Awards, 15 Silver Key Awards and 33 Honorable Mention Awards.

 

MAINE WEST HIGH SCHOOL

Oscar Alanis (9th grade), Honorable Mention – Photography

Paola Alvarez (12th grade), Honorable Mention – AP Studio Art

Makayla Antusas (12th grade), Honorable Mention – Photography

Ariana Arzola (11th grade), Silver Key Award – Ceramics & Glass, Advanced Ceramics and Design

 Nataniel Jorge Cajigas (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage, Advanced Digital Art

Mark David (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Illustration

Alaina Fracek (12th grade), Gold Key Award, Silver Key Award and 2 Honorable Mentions – Ceramics & Glass, AP Studio Art, Mixed Media

Noriel Garcia (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Photography 2

Antonia Gomez (12th grade), Honorable Mention – Painting, AP Studio Art

Alexa Gonzalez (11th grade), Silver Key Award – AP Studio Art, Honorable Mention – Photography 2

Gwyneth Van Huis (12th grade), Silver Key Award – Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage, AP Digital Art

Delaney Kroschel (10th grade), Silver Key Award – Photography 2

Dione Loyola (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Drawing, Art 3

Melisa Murillo Marquez (10th grade), Honorable Mention – Photography 1

Ashley Schreyer-Miller (12th grade), Gold Key Award – Mixed Media, AP Studio Art

Elisa Murillo (10th grade), Silver Key Award – Photography 2

Takhmina Saipova (10th grade), Honorable Mention – Photography 2

Maia Taraszka (11th grade), Gold Key Award – Photography 1

Abby Gomez Tello Urias (12th grade), Silver Key Award – Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage, AP Digital Art

 

MAINE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

Helen Alejandre (10th grade), Silver Key Award – Drawing

Sophia Cherone (11th grade), 2 Silver Key Awards – Drawing, Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage

Eila Faulkner (11th grade), Gold Key Award – Digital Painting and Drawing & Collage

Evangeline Feucht (12th grade), Honorable Mention – Painting

Margaret Filatov (9th grade), Honorable Mention – Ceramics & Glass

Zaraith Gamez (12th grade), Honorable Mention – Painting

Isabella Kantner (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Photography

Suzy Kuzminski (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Printmaking

Amie Mantilla (12th grade), Gold Key Award – Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage

Ainsley McCullah (10th grade), Honorable Mention – Photography

Maggie Potaczek (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Photography

 

MAINE EAST HIGH SCHOOL

Humeyra Ada (12th grade), Honorable Mention and Silver Key Award – Art 3

Nadia Ali (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Advanced Ceramics & Design

Akylai Baatyrbekova (10th grade), Silver Key Award – Art 2

Patrice Beldia (12th grade), Silver Key Award – AP Studio Art

Marie Castillo (12th grade), Silver Key Award and Honorable Mention – Ceramics & Design 2

Lidija Dugalic (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Advanced Ceramics & Design

Viviana Gonzalez (12th grade), Silver Key Award – AP Studio Art

Sophia Kouzoukas (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Art 3

Lance Lukose (10th grade), American Vision: Best of Show – Art 2

Julia Majka (12th grade), Gold Key Award and 2 Honorable Mentions – AP Studio Art

Daria Maletina (12th grade), Silver Key Award – AP Studio Art

Fathima Maryam Shameer Mohamed (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Art 2

Rosie Ochirkhuu (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Art 3

Kelly Olczyk (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Art 2

Erika Pita (11th grade), Honorable Mention – Photo 2

Naomi Polintan (12th grade), Honorable Mention – AP Studio Art

Anastasia Valchkou (12th grade), Honorable Mention – AP Studio Art

 

To view a portfolio of all the District 207 award-winning artwork, please visit https://bit.ly/D207SAA26.