Each year Scholastic magazine puts on the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, for young artists and writers. Students all over the nation, from seventh-grade to 12th-grade can submit entries to compete for opportunities based on their artistic and literary talents.

According to senior Carleigh Newland, Scholastic promotes creativity and intellectuality among students and allows them to create and share their creation with others.

“In eighth grade, I got a national award and was able to go to New York,” Newland said. “At the awards ceremony they had all the art set up and all the Nook stations where you could read and just experience all them. That was my favorite part.”

Scholastic offers senior scholarships, according to art teacher Michael Hall, and has a list between 40 and 50 different colleges that give scholarships for literary and artistic talents.

“Scholastic is one of the only art contests that is nationwide,”Hall said. “Some teachers never have students that win in their teaching career. I had students win national awards and it’s really quite an honor. I would be surprise if it happens again. It’s a once in a lifetime thing.”

According to national silver medalist senior Rebekah Rodriguez, the diversity of the competition allows areas of interest for any creative outlet.

“I like the challenge and what the competition stands for,” Rodriguez said. “Its values individuality, creativity and full expression.”

Students must have a teachers sponsor, and entries can be submitted on www.artandwriting.org through Dec. 15 for writing entries and Dec. 16 for art entries.