Scholastic Writing Awards
About
The Honors Program at Point Park University is proud to be the Pittsburgh regional affiliate of the Scholastic Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. Teens in grades 7–12, age 13 years and older, are invited to enter their art or writing for the chance to win recognition, publication, exhibition, and up to $10,000 in scholarships.
At the regional level, works earn Honorable Mention, Silver Key, or Gold Key distinction. Gold Key work advances to the national level; at this level works can earn Gold, Silver with Distinction, and Silver Portfolio, and Gold and Silver Medal, as well as American Voices distinction.
The deadline to enter the 2025 Scholastic Writing Awards in the Pittsburgh Region is Fri., Dec. 13, 2024.
Please visit the regional website for all payment information.
Winners will be announced at the end of January 2025.
Point Park will host the Regional Awards Ceremony in March 2025 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.
For more information, contact Leslie Wessner, regional coordinator, at lwessner@pointpark.edu.
View the complete list of 2024 regional winners.
Congratulations to the 2024 national winners from the Pittsburgh region:
- Madeleine Ng, Oakland Catholic High School, Gold Medal, American Voices Medal, Journalism, "The Impact of Resources on the Quality of STEM Education"
- Ozge Ada Uzman, Shady Side Academy Senior School, Gold Medal, Science Fiction & Fantasy, "Image"
- Elena Eiss, Pittsburgh CAPA School, Honorable Mention, Portfolio (Writing), "Contemplations of Place"
- Hallie Dong, Sewickley Academy
- Gold Medal, Poetry, "Mother, a verb"
- Silver Medal, Poetry, "Aubade for bird-boned body"
- Silver Medal, Poetry, "Aubade"
- Gold Medal, Poetry, "Summer, 2016"
- Hannah Hammons, Winchester Thurston School, Gold Medal, Personal Essay & Memoir, "Stamped: What A Trail Remembers"
- Tegan Quillen, Pittsburgh CAPA School, Silver Medal, Dramatic Script, "Devil's Advocate"
- Isadora Eden Davis, Pittsburgh CAPA School, New York Life Scholarship, Silver Medal, Short Story, "Living In-Between"
Pittsburgh region winners
Congratulations to all of our regional 2023 winners, including American Voice nominees Katriel Camp (The Ellis School), Grace Glowczewski (Pittsburgh CAPA), Jocelyn Hayes (Winchester Thurston), Alexander Sayette (Winchester Thurston) and Sarah Voigt (Shady Side Academy).
View the complete list of regional winners here.
Read about the awards ceremony here.
National winners from the Pittsburgh region:
- Grace Boyer, The Ellis School, Silver Medal, Personal Essay & Memoir, "Imposter Syndrome in Soba"
- Sydney Cutruzzula, Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School, Silver Medal, Poetry, "Always for Others"
- Grace Glowczewski, Pittsburgh CAPA School, American Voices Medal, Poetry, "La Brega"
- Elaine Gombos, Shady Side Academy Senior School, Silver Medal, Critical Essay, "From Enemies to Lovers: Japanese War Brides and Their Influence on Multiculturalism in the United States"
- Thomas Gordon, Winchester Thurston School, Silver Medal, Critical Essay, "Envisioning an Ethical A.I."
- Tessa Gumberg, The Ellis School, Silver Medal, Critical Essay, "The Irrational are Raising our Children!"
- Mark Harris, Penn Trafford High School, Silver Medal, Flash Fiction, "Moose Crossing"
- Leslie Rwigyema, Carlynton Jr Senior High School, Silver Medal, Short Story, "Lilac Syndrome"
- Sarah Voigt, Shady Side Academy Senior School, Silver Medal, Flash Fiction, "Wonder Girl"
- Esme Warman, The Ellis School, Silver Medal, Critical Essay, "How Henrik Ibsen and Mary Wollstonecraft Criticize Separate Spheres"
Learn more
- Listen to these interviews about the Scholastic Writing Awards with Leslie Wessner, regional coordinator:
- Read about the Scholastic Writing Awards here.
- For details about the Pittsburgh region awards, such as regional guidelines, deadlines, directions and announcements on the ceremony, visit our regional microsite.
For more information, contact Leslie Wessner, regional coordinator, at lwessner@pointpark.edu.