Talent. It’s that luminous forte that some people emit with their very presence. It’s what makes Andy Warhol’s name so familiar. It’s what set fifteen award-winning Langley art students apart in the annual Scholastic Art competition. 

The Scholastic Art Awards, bestowed by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers in the forms of gold and silver keys, are some of the most prestigious awards to date, as well as the largest source of scholarships for young creative artists. The award ceremony was held Tuesday, Feb. 22. Andy Warhol won a gold key in 1945 at age 17. 

Photography teacher Ms. Amanda Archibald encourages all of her students, especially her seniors, to enter the contest. “It helps them appreciate, or get an understanding of, the art they’re making,” Archibald says. 

One of these outstanding artists is senior and gold key winner Sabine Koyomji, with her eight-picture portfolio entitled, “Destination: Lebanon.” In her artist statement, she writes, “When the word Lebanon flashes in my mind, a lot happens. It’s nostalgia…it’s that ‘thing’ I think about that gives me chills—it’s what I day dream about.”

“I knew I needed to choose a concept that I could easily relate to, admire, and be inspired by,” Koyomji elaborates, “while simultaneously incorporating my passion for color and crispness.”

Koyomji’s photography is such a big part of her: “I get chills just thinking about it: the feeling that something so personal and vivid to me actually leaked to other people.”

In short, recognition by the Alliance through the Scholastic Art Awards is truly a prestigious honor that fifteen talented Langley students have received. Who knows, one of them just may the next Warhol.

Students who won a Scholastic Art Award, 2011:
Laura Baughan (11)
Diana D’Arcee (12)
Claire Hostetter (11)
Sabine Koyomji (12)
Eric Laubinger (12)
Elizabeth Lim (12)
Jaelin Lim (12)
Dominic Perotti (12)
Stephen Rainey (12)
Kari Shafernich (11)
Lexy Von Keszycki (12)
Chelsea Wang (12)
Ji Hye Yang (12)
Dong Joo Yoon (12)
Suhyoun Yu (12)