Northern Michigan University's Northern Shores Storywork Writing Project has announced 46 regional award winners, from among 130 Upper Peninsula submissions, of the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Presented by the nonprofit organization the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the country's longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative students in grades 7–12.
Regional honors include Gold Keys, which are considered for national honors, Silver Keys, Honorable Mentions, and American Visions & Voices nominations.
Gold Keys in art were awarded to the following: Eleanor Dohrenwend, an 11th grader at Marquette Senior High School (MSHS), mixed media; Cat Ernsberger, a 12th grader at MSHS, fashion; Hannah Josefson, a 12th grader at Negaunee High School (NHS), painting and senior portfolio, plus a silver key and two honorable mentions in painting; Natalie Joyal, a 12th grader at MSHS, drawing and illustration, along with silver in illustration and ceramics and glass and honorable mention in sculpture; Gabrielle Myers, a 12th grader from Hancock, comic art; Savanna Rautio, a 12th grader at Westwood High School (WHS), ceramics and glass; Miles Spaulding, a 12th grader from Negaunee, gold and honorable mention in senior portfolio; and Esme Ulland-Joy, a 12th grader at MSHS, gold and silver in drawing.
Recipients of Silver Keys in art include Reese Collins, a 12th grader at NHS, two silver keys and an honorable mention in painting; Nynna Jarvi, an 11th grader at Calumet High School (CHS), painting; Isabelle Recollet, a 12th grader at WHS, both a silver and honorable mention in mixed media; Addisyn Sundberg, a 12th grader from Negaunee, sculpture and digital painting; and Lila Witham, an 11th grader from Forsyth Township, comic art.
Recipients of Honorable Mentions in art include Morgyn Hansen, a 12th grader at WHS, sculpture; Brooke Johnson, an 11th grader at Gwinn High School (GHS), ceramics and glass; Madeline Meilahn, a 10th grader from Copper Harbor, painting and drawing; Arianna Paananen, a 9th grader at NHS, drawing; Lilia Skoglund, an 11th grader from GHS, fashion and jewelry; and Quinley Wonch, a 10th grader at MSHS, painting.
Gold Key recipients in the writing category include Paisley Armano, a 10th grader at GHS, gold and honorable mention in poetry; Alannah Bosworth, a 10th grader at GHS, poetry; Reese Collins, a 12th grader at NHS, poetry, along with honorable mention in personal essay/memoir; Olivia Letson, a 12th grader at WHS, gold and honorable mention in critical essay; Mallory McMahon, a 12th grader at CHS, critical essay; Lucy Ostola, a 12th grader at WHS, flash fiction; and Sequaya Spade, a 12th grader at NHS, poetry.
Silver Key recipients for writing include Olivia Berryman, a 12th grader at Jeffers High, poetry; Emily Broeders, a 9th grader at NHS, short story; Sebastian Ferguson, a 12th grader at NHS, poetry and short story, plus an honorable mention in poetry; Eva Gleason, a 12th grader at NHS, critical essay; Abigail Hallum, a 12th grader at NHS, poetry; Kailey Hooper, an 11th grader at NHS, poetry; Nicole Kerkela, a 12th grader at NHS, personal essay/memoir; Arianna Paananen, a 9th grader at NHS, poetry; Evynn Seablom, a 12th grader at WHS, personal essay/memoir; Madeline Tibbits, a 9th grader at Pickford High, novel writing; and Kloe Verran, a 12th grader at Painesdale Jeffers High, flash fiction.
Honorable Mention recipients for writing include Alexander Billing, a 9th grader at GHS, poetry; Vincent Camilli, an 8th grader at Father Marquette Catholic Academy, flash fiction; Grace Dee, an 11th grader at CHS, flash fiction; Molly Erkkila, a 12th grader at CHS, personal essay/memoir; Madyson Evans, a 9th grader at Baraga High, two honorable mentions for novel; Eleanna Hokenson, a 10th grader at CHS, two honorable mentions in poetry; Isabelle Moebius, a 12th grader at WHS, personal essay/memoir; Charly Nordeen, a 10th grader at GHS, poetry; and Kaelyn Storm, an 11th grader at NHS, poetry.
The American Visions nominees were Eleanor Dohrenwend, Hannah Josefson, Natalie Joyal, Gabrielle Myers and Miles Spaulding. The American Voices nominees were Paisley Armano, Alannah Bosworth, Reese Collins, Mallory McMahon and Sequaya Spade. One in each category will receive a national award, to be announced March 25.
“Rural creative teens deserve the same opportunities as teens in large cities,” said Dr. Kel Sassi, director of the Northern Shores Writing Project Site. “By serving as an affiliate for these awards, we open up pathways to success for teens in our region and for their teachers as well.”
In celebration of this year's regional award winners, NMU's DeVos Art Museum will host an exhibit from Feb. 21-March 14. The U.P. ceremony will be held from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 14, in NMU's School of Art and Design. All award-winning teens, along with their teachers, families and friends are invited to attend. The teachers of the award-winning teens will be honored with a Scholastic educator pin at the ceremony.
For more information about the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, visit the Scholastic News Room: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/artandwriting.