J-D High School students are being recognized for their artistic skills in the 2026 Central New York Scholastic Art Awards competition. The awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for teens in grades 7-12. Local award winners were also honored at a recent award ceremony at SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College (OCC).
The Central New York region includes 13 counties and nearly 400 eligible schools. Judges evaluated more than 5,000 entries for their originality, technical skill and the emergence of personal voice or vision. 1,487 pieces were selected to receive Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mentions in addition to special honors and cash prizes.
Only 21 special honor awards are presented each year. J-D High School senior Ellis Solomon earned the Independent Potters’ Association of CNY Award for Best work in Ceramics & Glass, Functional Design. Ellis’ Gold Key piece now advances to compete at the national level where it has the potential to earn scholarship funding. The recognition continues a strong track record for the piece, which also earned $200 at last spring’s Syracuse Ceramic Guild Student Show.
Award-winning Scholastic artwork will be on public display until Feb. 27 at the Whitney Applied Technology Center at Onondaga Community College. The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Congratulations to all J-D High School awardees:
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- Ellis Solomon, Gold Key/Special Honor – Ceramics & Glass, Honorable Mention (2) – Ceramics & Glass
- Joye Lai, Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention – Photography
- Lillian Engel, Gold Key – Drawing
- Sheza Hamid, Gold Key – Drawing
- Nora Hasegawa, Gold Key – Painting
- Juliana Piccitto, Gold Key – Painting
- Grace Toyama, Gold Key – Drawing
- Isabela Nikolavsky, Gold Key – Drawing
- Raina Kaelin, Silver Key – Photography
- Gretchen Kirch, Silver Key – Painting
- Duoyi Shao, Silver Key – Drawing
- Molly Montgomery, Silver Key – Ceramics & Glass
- Nicholas Van Schaick, Silver Key – Ceramics & Glass
- Alba Hoxha, Silver Key – Painting
- Talia Salomon, Silver Key – Painting
- Lia Chen, Silver Key and Honorable Mention – Photography
- Ailey Babikian, Honorable Mention – Painting
- Yoofi Eghan, Honorable Mention – Drawing
- Lila Kresge, Honorable Mention – Painting
- Kayla McQuaid, Honorable Mention – Drawing
- Sophia Randazzo, Honorable Mention – Drawing
- Julia Ransier, Honorable Mention – Painting
- Jaely Zombek, Honorable Mention – Painting
- Alba Hoxha, Honorable Mention – Drawing
- Mackenzie Maguire, Honorable Mention – Painting
- Emma Ridzi, Honorable Mention – Ceramics & Glass
- Aero Raulli, Honorable Mention – Photography