Students recognized for creative work
High school students in the Beaufort County School District have earned regional recognition in the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, a national program honoring creative work by teens.
Students from Bluffton High School, Hilton Head Island High School, Beaufort High School and May River High School received Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention awards for original work in drawing, photography, ceramics, sculpture, fashion, painting, illustration, mixed media and experimental photography.
Gold Key awards, the highest regional honor, were presented to Bianca Picasso of Bluffton High School for “Hidden but Homey” in drawing and to Maxima Poletto of Bluffton High for “Fall Foliage” in ceramics. At Hilton Head Island High School, Gold Keys were awarded to Charlotte Hussey for “Re-Arranged” in sculpture, Sophie Olander for “Bloom in Twilight” in mixed media, Rhett Marshall for “Superman” in experimental photography, and Sienna Schutz for “Transformations of Africa” in drawing.
Picasso’s “Hidden but Homey” was also named an American Visions nominee, a distinction given to select regional Gold Key works chosen to represent their region at the national level. Gold Key recipients advance to national adjudication.
Silver Key awards were earned by Sofie Steen of Beaufort High School for “I Returned From the Woods” in illustration; Iyari Chacoj Leiva of Bluffton High for “Still Life” in photography; Bianca Picasso for “Peace Perspective” in drawing; and Maxima Poletto for “Perfectly Plump” in ceramics. Additional Silver Key recipients from Hilton Head Island High School included Aubrey Cranford for “Transformation” in drawing; Sophie Olander for “The Black Dress” in fashion; Christina Walker for “Low Country Nights” in digital painting, drawing and collage; Ella Shaw for “Mystic Water Blossom” in photography; Taim Taylor-Rivera for “Streak of Love” in experimental photography; and Sienna Schutz for “Forever a Son, Father, Husband and Grandfather” in drawing. Samantha Shipps of May River High School received a Silver Key for “Midnight Drive” in painting.
Honorable Mentions were awarded to James Anderson of Bluffton High School for “Atlanta 16” in photography and to Bianca Picasso for “A Ripple in Calm” in painting. From Hilton Head Island High School, Honorable Mentions went to Aubrey Cranford for “The Memory Project” in drawing and “Hello” in digital painting, drawing and collage; Sienna Schutz for “Bloom” in drawing; Arhirany Garcia for “Dock Dreams” in photography; Jeremiah Walters for “Mj Through The Loop” and “Holding The Moment” in photography; Tyrese Howard for “Dark Marsh” and “Spikes” in photography; Taim Taylor-Rivera for “Rose Quartz Horizon” in photography; Kylie Moberley for “Action Smokebomb” in photography; and Ella Shaw for “Gaze Breaking Through Darkness” in experimental photography. At May River High School, Ma’kaely Cairo received an Honorable Mention for “Beetles” in painting, and Hanalyn Weitekamper was recognized for “Bramble and Unlikely Enemies” in illustration.
According to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, submissions are judged on originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal vision or voice. Alumni of the program include Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon and Ken Burns.
District officials congratulated the student artists and their teachers on the recognition.
