D308 Writers, Artists Awarded In Regional Scholastic Competition

OSWEGO, IL — Writers and artists from Oswego East High School and Oswego High School won multiple awards at the regional Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards competition, officials announced.

The work of Gold Key winners, who placed in the top 5 to 7 percent, will advance to the national competition in March.

By submitting work to the Scholastic competition — considered by many to be the longest-running and most prestigious creative competition in the country — students are given opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarships.

In 2022, more than 260,000 original works in 28 categories of art and writing were submitted to the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards competition, according to Oswego School District 308 officials.

Here's a look at the awards won by students from each school.

Oswego East High School

Gold Key (top 5-7 percent)

• Brex Cappadora - "Dealing With Depression," personal essay
• Diana Hernandez-Gomez - "American Nightmare," poetry
• Ella Hansel - "110 Pounds," poetry
• Serene Khamis - "The Oven," poetry
• Venus Tapang - "Catholicism For Girls," poetry

Silver Key (top 7-10 percent)

• Aidan Poetsch - "The Mines of Sheol," poetry
• Avery McKeown-Robbie - "Eat The World," poetry
• Brex Cappadora - "Behind The Door," flash fiction
• Diana Hernandez-Gomez - "Outgrowing the Weeds," portfolio
• Ella Hansel - "Eudaimonia [Unaware]," poetry
• Serene Khamis - "The Devil’s Face," [oetry
• Shyell Lowe - "My Love," flash fiction

Honorable Mentions (top 10-15 percent)

• Aidan Poetsch - "My Fever," poetry
• Bryn Meyers - "Bad Nights," personal essay
• Diana Hernandez-Gomez - "Letter To My Future Child," poetry
• Ella Hansel - "Solemn Hymn In Snow," dramatic script
• Ella Hansel - "Acatalepsy," poetry
• Kyra Ancheta - "Deceitful Flashes," poetry
• Kyra Ancheta - "Savor," poetry
• Meghan Walsh - "The Man In The Mirror," short story
• Naima Morris - "I Don’t Want To Wake Up Tomorrow," poetry
• Nuria Kim - "Sister," poetry
• Shyell Lowe - "Liberated Butterflies," flash fiction
• Sumayya Fatima - "My Room Is My Mind," personal essay

Oswego High School

Gold Key (top 5-7 percent)

• Jenna Lovell - "Magic," digital art
• Jenna Lovell - "Persephone Playing Cards," design
• Sadie Oehlerking - "I’m so sleepy," painting
• Nicole Stankiewicz - "Mirrored Distortion," drawing and illustration
• Amber Antonich - "One Day," poetry
• Amber Antonich - "Where Does The Light Come From," poetry
• Ashley Vargas - "To All Intents and Purposes," poetry
• Luke Barry - "Family, " personal essay/memoir

Silver Key (top 7-10 percent)

• Madison Hillebold - "My First Oil Painting," painting
• Jenna Lovell - "Back To Living," painting
• Stephanie Sendra - "Untitled," painting
• Nicole Stankiewicz - "Cacophony of Disillusionment," drawing and illustration
• Nicole Stankiewicz - "Anything but White Noise," drawing and illustration
• Lynleigh Ufen - "Happy New Year!" digital art
• Chloe Valero - "Magic of Music," mixed media
• Christian Mattern - "Azure Coronation," short story
• Jessica Taylor - "Teenage Sleep Deprivation and How Schools Can Help," critical essay
• Kara Baaske - "Spoiled Guilt," poetry
• Katey Harris - "Tethers," writing portfolio
• Katey Haris - "Cauterized," poetry
• Raelyn Alvarez - "[SATIRE] OHS Fish sandwich causes new COVID-19 variant," humor

Honorable Mentions (top 10-15 percent)

• Jenna Allen - "Untitled," painting
• Jessica Dove - "Desiderium," painting
• Jessica Dove - "Undecided Destiny," digital art
• Trinity Fritzler - "Measuring Worth," photography
• Natalia Godinez - "Hyperfixation," digital art
• Jenna Lovell - "Emotion and Color," art portfolio
• Christian Mattern - "Citadelle De La Grotte," sculpture
• Marah Pierce - "Untitled," painting
• Stephanie Sendra - "Untitled," painting
• Stephanie Sendra - "Untitled," painting