T-Bolt Artist earns national recognition

Victor J. Andrew High School junior Nour Farache was named a national gold medalist in the Scholastic Art Awards. More than 100,000 students submitted more than 260,000 works of art and writing. Her work was selected by some of the foremost leaders in the visual and literary arts for excellence in originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

Less than 2,000 works received a National Medal, which places Nour within the top 1% of all submissions!

Her piece, entitled Escape Plan: Error 372, is extremely detailed and 22" x 30" in size. She estimates that she spent 150 hours to complete it.

Andrew art teacher Kerrie Klitz said, “Nour is an inspiration! She came to the U.S a few years ago from Lebanon. She started drawing only three years ago during Covid in order to stay busy and connected with the world. Her amazingly detailed work is a reflection of these views, stories, and connections. Nour also enjoys writing. She is a positive person who is very thoughtful and encouraging to those around her. I find her endlessly fascinating and gifted and a pleasure to have in class.”

Her work will be published in the Online Galleries at artandwriting.org in June. Her name will also be listed in Yearbook 2022, a companion to our annual publications Best Teen Art and Best Teen Writing, which feature selections of works by National Medalists. She will be honored at a ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 8th.

Since 1923, the Awards have celebrated teen artists and writers from across the country. Nour is now part of that legacy, joining the ranks of notable alumni, including Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andy Warhol—all of whom won Scholastic Awards when they were teens.