Since 1923, talented art students across the country have entered their pieces into the Scholastic Art and Writing competition, trying to win a coveted spot in a display in Carnegie Hall, along with other regional and national awards and scholarships.

This year, over 40 Utica High students won prizes, called “Keys,” in the Michigan Thumb region competition and were honored in a display at Macomb Community College in January.

The awards are presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, which is a non-profit organization created to identify students with “exceptional artistic and literary talent” and to “present their remarkable work to the world” through the competition.

Students that won Gold Keys, the highest level of award that can be won, will advance in the competition and compete with other artists and their works at the national level.

Katie Daiek, a senior taking 2D Art with teacher Jennifer Allore, sent in three different pieces to be judged in the competition. Her entries, included a watercolor painting of fellow senior Evan Driscoll, a painting of an apple done in India ink, and a printmaking piece.

The printmaking piece received a Gold Key as well as recognition from the College of Creative Studies for their Best in Category award.

“This is only my second year of taking an art class,” Daiek said, “so I owe it to [teacher Jennifer] Allore for being such an amazing teacher and for being a major reason why I want to do art and continue to be a part of the Scholastics.”

Others winning a Gold Key included senior Mckenzie DeLaere for photography, senior Evan Zack, senior Hanna Gehrke for painting, Rorry Gilkinson for sculpture, Lillian Haydon for digital art, Madison Lockaby for photography, Brandy Paton for sculpture, and Megan Pawenski for sculpture.

“It’s an amazing thing to achieve,” Zack said.