The National Arts and Writing Scholastics Competition has awarded 43 Revere High School artists and writers for their various works.

Revere students entered a total of 551 works into the competition.

The National Arts and Writing Scholastics Competition has occurred regionally for over 62 years and nationally for 93 years. Founder Maurice R. Robinson stated why the competition began.

“[The competition is] to give those high school students who demonstrate superior talent and achievement in things of the spirit and of the mind at least a fraction of the honors and rewards accorded to their athletic classmates for demonstrating their bodily skills,” Robinson said.

Bob Pierson, an art teacher at Revere High School who teaches Elemental Art, Drawing Design, A.P Drawing, A.P. Studio Art 2D Design and Sculpture, talked about the importance of the competition and the submission process.

“It is like the Olympics of high school art. Every kid can enter on their own or [their] teacher can enter it. There is a dollar [fee] per entry and there is no limit on the amount of works [one can enter] so instead of Revere entering ninety things for three teachers or four teachers or thirty for each teacher, now we are entering four hundred. Now it is up to the students to enter what they want to enter. If they want my opinion, I will tell them what has a better chance,” Pierson said.

Pierson also explained the judging process for the Gold and Silver Key awards.

“[The judges] pick ten percent of [the entries] roughly and then [the judges] divide that into [thirds]. The bottom third are Honorable Mentions, the middle third are Silver Keys and the Gold Keys are that top third,” Pierson said.

Revere High School Advanced Photography teacher Paulette Colantone explained that Gold Key winners have a chance to go to nationals and Silver Key winners are up in the shelves of the exhibition.

Revere Junior Lexie Farist entered the competition and won both Gold and Silver Key awards and a Honorable Mention. She talked about how Pierson encouraged her to enter the competition.

“I would really like to thank [Pierson] because he came to me, asked me and encouraged me to do it. He said [my work] was really good, had me sign up [and] gave titles [for my pieces],” Farist said.

Between January 19 and February 3 the artists who won keys have their works showcased at the Kent State Stark Branch library. Gold Key winners have a chance to receive awards during nationals in March.

Gold key winners include: Mckenna Becker(2), Alyssa Byvoets(1), Caroline Edwards(1), Lexie Farist(1), Sierra Fowler(1), Joe Grajzl(1), Julia Grubert(1), Ileana Hernandez(3), Hannah Jenkins(1),Russell Klein(1), Ellen Race(2), Margo Sollit(3), Hannah Weisburn(1), Madison Williams(1). Silver key winners include: Mckenna Becker(2), Sharon Caldwell(1), Taylor Cherotti(3), Hayley Demchak(1), Lexie Farist(1), Joe Gabel(1), Olivia Giltner(1), Ileana Hernandez(2), Ava Jakab(1), Russell Klein(1), Paul Molke(1), Ellen Race(1), Margo Solitt(2), Hannah Weisburn(2), Leah Weisburn(1),Madison Williams(1), Emily Wright(1), Maddy Young(1). Honorable mentions include: Mckenna Becker(1), Sharon Caldwell(1), Taylor Cherotti(1), Caroline Edwards(3), Lexie Farist(1), Joe Gable(2), Joe Grajzl(2), Ileana Hernandez(3), Hannah Jenkins(1), Ellen Race(1), Hannah Weisburn(9), Leah Weisburn(2), Emily Wright(1), Lucia Boulos(1), Michelle Fazzio(1), Jordan Gifford(1), Grace Godard(1), Johanna Henderson(1), Simona Jasova(1), Matthew Kemer(1), Logan Mackulin(1), Dana Mckinney(2), Evelyn Solis(2) and Angela Tong(1). January 19 through February 3 the artists who won keys have their works showcased at the Kent State Stark Branch. Students have a chance to receive awards during nationals in March.