We are proud of our student Olga Gopka who received Gold Key Recognition for her poem titled “The Wind Caresses Cheerful Leaves of Trees”. Olga's work written as a part of a school assignment was selected from over 3000 writing submissions received by the Massachusetts Region Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The poem will be included in the exhibition of gold key art and writing work scheduled to open on March 18 at Breed Hall on Tufts University's Medford campus.

The annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition initiative for creative students. Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients. Panelists look for works that exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

Students receive Gold Keys, Silver Keys, Honorable Mentions, or American Voices & Visions Nominations. Gold Key works are the very best works submitted to local programs. They are then judged nationally by an impressive panel of creative–industry experts to receive National Medals. The awards alumni include authors and artists that have come to exemplify the highest standards of excellence in their field, among them writers Joyce Carol Oates and Stephen King, poets Sylvia Plath and Amanda Gorman, directors Richard Linklater and Lena Dunham, artists Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, and many more.

Olga's poem is now eligible for National Honors Award and we hope to see her among the finalists. Congratulations Olga!