The art work of nine Lyons Township High School artists will advance to the Scholastic Art Awards national competition in New York, where they will join selections from across the country. Judges will critique and choose just 700 winning pieces based on thought, technique, execution and overall impact. LT's contingent includes four Art Portfolios in which students exhibit a thematic group of eight works, something that takes months to develop, and seven Gold Key winners.

       Three of the students will advance to national competition with multiple pieces of art. Among the multiple winners is senior Monica Dihn, of Burr Ridge, who will advance to nationals in the Art Portfolio category, as well as in the drawing, painting and printmaking categories as a Gold Key winner; she also had five other art pieces earn regional recognition. Senior Jordan Szala, of LaGrange Park, also received a Gold Key in Art Portfolio, as well as Gold Keys in drawing, mixed media and painting, along with five regional ribbons. Senior Peter Gajewski, of LaGrange, will advance with four Gold Key awards in photography, and he also received an Honorable Mention Art Portfolio and a Silver Key in photo.

In addition to the pieces that will advance to national competition, Lion artists received 21 Silver Key awards, pieces that represent the second highest level of achievement at the regional level, and 27 Honorable Mention awards, works judged worthy of recognition.

Art from the regional exhibition will be on display from February 10th - 15th at Downers Grove North High School. The Scholastic Art Regional Competition is a very difficult show to place into and to win awards in; only about 35% of the entries are accepted. Of the total number submitted, approximately 10% earn Gold Keys and 10% earn Silver Keys. LT took every award in the Printmaking category!  

Year after year the program continues to grow with increased participation from students across the country. To date, the Scholastic Art Competition has encouraged over 13 million students, recognized more than 9 million young artists and writers, and made available more than $25 million in awards and scholarships. It continues to be the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the U.S., and the largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers.