A National Scholastic Art and Writing Award-Winning School

Cover photo: “Cat and Mouse Game” by Andy Mai '24 

Originating in 1923, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the nation’s longest running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. Each year, Tabor students submit their best work and compete against their peers at the state level. Submissions are judged blindly by a panel of experts in the literary and visual arts. According to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards website, when selecting winners, judges look for works that exemplify the Awards’ core values— originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

Congratulations to the following students for their regional recognition:

• Silvia Chen ’24 — Regional Silver Key — Digital Art (x2) & Painting
• Emma Zhou ’23 — Regional Silver Key — Drawing & Illustration
• Andy Mai ’24 — Regional Silver Key — Photography (x2)
• Eagle Pei ’26 — Regional Silver Key — Fashion & Sculpture
• Isabella Konowicz ’26 — Regional Silver Key — Poetry

Any student that receives a Gold Key at the regional level is automatically entered into the national level of competition. This year two Seawolves were awarded a medal at the national level, making Tabor Academy a Scholastic Art and Writing Award-Winning School for the second time since the first honor in 2012.

Congratulations to the following 2023 National Medalists:

• Zhiheng “Andy” Mai ’24 — Gold Medal — Photography: “Cat and Mouse Game”
• Chenghao “Eagle” Pei ’26 — Silver Medal — Sculpture:  “Hope and Despair”

In response to the award Mai reflects, “It’s an important milestone for me. I set this goal last year and, to my surprise, I achieved it. However, I think that people should focus on the process of creating art and the thinking behind it instead of the recognition. If you make your art just for the award, you won’t make good art.”

Mai entered the maximum number of photos allowed in the contest. When selecting which images he would submit, Mai picked those that told an interesting story.

“A picture that engages with the audience is a powerful one. As for ‘Cat and Mouse Game,’ I chose it because of the composition, color, and how the subjects in the photo interact as if they are past and future versions of themselves,” Mai continues, “I am inspired by documentary photographers who capture the raw emotions of everyday life and my passion in photography stems from my curiosity to understand the world around me. Through documentary photography, I am able to find my voice and express myself.”