Three Fox Chapel Area High School students were named national winners in the 2023 Scholastic Art Awards. Senior Siheng Chao won a Gold Medal for his drawing, “The Flood,” and junior Mikayla Korczynski won a Gold Medal for her editorial cartoon, “Would You Like a Bag?". This is the first time a Fox Chapel Area High School student has ever won an award in the editorial cartoon category. Additionally, senior Mikhail Ion won a Silver Medal for his portfolio, “Fantastical Creatures.”
For being named national Gold Medal winners, Siheng and Mikayla, along with their teachers, Joan Marangoni and Christine Smith, have been invited to attend a ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 7. Additionally, Siheng’s and Mikayla’s artwork will be published in the Online Galleries at artandwriting.org in June. Their names will also be listed in “Yearbook 2023,” a companion to the annual publication “Best Teen Art,” which features selections of works by the national medalists.
This year, more than 100,000 students in grades 7-12 submitted more than 260,000 works of art and writing through regional contests. Prior to being named national winners, Siheng, Mikayla, and Mikhail were named winners in the 2023 Pittsburgh Region of the Scholastic Art Awards. At the national level, the works of art and writing were judged by a panel of creative-industry experts, and less than 2,000 received national Gold or Silver Medals. Only the top 1% of all entries earn national recognition.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards continues to be the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the U.S.
"The Flood" by Siheng Chao
"The Bag" by Mikayla Korczynski
