In the 2025 Scholastic Art Awards held in Everhart Museum, Emma Deardorff, ‘25 won a Gold Key for her digital artwork named “Lamb” and she was also nominated for The American Visions award. Deardorff’s second piece, a pen and ink drawing entitled, “There Are Bugs All Around Me and I Don’t Know Why,” earned an honorable mention.
The Scholastic Art Awards is America’s longest-going, and most valuable recognition program for artistic teens. It’s open to teen artists from grades 7-12 across the country and allows artists to showcase their art, and win awards and recognition for their region. The Northeast region encompasses 14 counties, and over 400 pieces of art were submitted from 40 different school districts.
Both pieces were made as part of Deardorff’s SHS AP Art class with instructor, Bethany Wert, and are part of Deardorff’s AP portfolio “which explores types of fears.”
Deardorff explained, “The black and white pen and ink one is exploring the fear of bugs, while the lamb is exploring the fear of men.”
Deardorff shared that she is the kind of student who is typically “under the radar” though she has always been creative and artistic. She admitted that the recognition feels good. She added that Wert, her art teacher, is “amazing and also deserves recognition.”
Honorable mention and Silver Key galleries will be on display at Marywood University, Feb. 8 – March 2.
“My art means a lot to me,” expresses Emma Deardorff. “I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in art since I was a little kid, and winning this award makes me feel extremely grateful because I put a lot of passion into both of the pieces.”
The American Visions Award is a highly distinguished accolade, where multiple artists are represented from a variety of areas worldwide. Deardorff, Gold Key winner, unlocks her nomination for American Visions with the possibility to represent Pennsylvania with her art in front of national judges. Deardorff was one of four contestants nominated for this award.
