“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” — Maya Angelou

February 9, 2022

Since 2014, PCS art students have been entering their artwork to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: Alliance for Young Artists and Writers (www.artandwriting.org), “the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens.”

This year 3,700 pieces of art were submitted by Oregon students. Less than 10 percent of entries – only about 300 pieces – received an award! So, we are thrilled that seven PCS students received 12 awards for their amazing and original artwork. This year, PCS student regional area awards included one gold key, five silver keys, and six honorable mentions. Gold key regional entries are automatically entered into the national awards. The national medalists are rewarded with scholarships, and a ceremony held in New York City celebrates the artists and their educators.

Our PCS regional gold key recipient this year is 12th grader Avery Heidebrecht. She has entered her art pieces in the Oregon Scholastic regional program every year since 8th grade. And every year she has received a Gold Key! In the last five years, she has received three Silver Keys and several Honorable Mentions as well. Heidebrecht credits her art teachers during her time at Portland Christian Schools from elementary through high school, as influencing her interest, abilities and growth as an artist. From Mrs. Nicole Curtis, former elementary art teacher, she learned to use color to express her feelings as well as to enjoy and have fun with art. She began submitting pieces when Mrs. Sarah Whitley, former PCS Jr/Sr High School art teacher, introduced our students to the Scholastic program and gave our students the opportunity to showcase their art.

Heidebrecht expressed appreciation of her current art teacher, Mrs. Evy McLean, “She has shown me how I can express myself in art without using words, and share my personal experiences through art.”

Grace Beals and Eli Chapman, both seniors who will graduate this year, agree that Mrs. McLean is inspirational. She gives them freedom to interpret the prompts for each class assignment. The trio of seniors note that their art pieces can look very different although the assignment is the same. Chapman exclaims, “Mrs. McLean is the best art teacher I’ve ever had! She gives me direction in my art, and helps me discover what to create. She’s exposed me to many different forms of art and mediums.”

Beals received a Silver Key award for her Portfolio submission. This category is a special honor as she had to submit six pieces.

Although none of the seniors are planning on attending an art college, art still plays a part in their future plans. Heidebrecht hopes to double major in art and hospitality management, while Beals has her eye on a biology major which might take her into forensic science or an arts-related field. Chapman would like to combine computer science with a degree that integrates art.

To these future PCS alumni, we wish them well and are thankful that they have had teachers who have impacted their creative souls and imbued them with the appreciation for visual arts and so much more!

Scholastic Art Winners