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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (March 25, 2026) – Following a strong showing at the regional level, students from Memphis and the greater Mid-South have earned a cumulative 27 national medals through the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The honorees, whose work advanced from the Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards hosted by the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, were recognized among outstanding student artists from across the country in a national competition judged in New York City.
The students were selected from a competitive pool of gold key winners who were recognized at regional levels across the U.S., placing them among the most accomplished young artists in the country. Their work spans painting, photography, illustration, ceramics, sculpture, drawing, digital art, mixed media, and film, reflecting the breadth of artistic talent emerging from schools across West Tennessee, East Arkansas, and North Mississippi.
American Visions Medal
- Joshua Haynes, Silent Release, Photography, grade 12, Southaven High School, educator Lori Lucas
Gold Medal
- Alaina Teasdale, Weight of Water, Experimental Photography, grade 10, Bartlett 9th Grade Academy, educator Amanda Tutor
- Brynner Salg, Down for the Summer, Photography, grade 10, Bartlett High School, educator Amanda Tutor
- Jennifer Lloyd, SPECIAL, Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage, grade 12, Munford High School, educator Reagan Crow
- Mariah Sarmiento, The Soul of a Player, Photography, grade 11, Central High School, educator Alisha Wall
- Silje Loftus-Skjervold, Take It Easy, Film & Animation, grade 9, University High School, educator Melanie Spillman
Silver Medal
- Addis Shiberou, Settlement, Painting, grade 12, Contemporary Arts Memphis, educator Amy-Beth Rice
- Alaina Teasdale, Disconnected Connection, Photography, grade 10, Bartlett 9th Grade Academy, educator Amanda Tutor
- Anson Yan, Tranquil Renewal, Illustration, grade 11, White Station High School, educator James Dycus
- Braeden Parimore, Wind Woman, Ceramics & Glass, grade 12, Arlington High School, educator Melanie Anderson
- Caroline Chandler, At Rest, Sculpture, grade 12, Contemporary Arts Memphis, educator Amy-Beth Rice
- Charlize Clark, Cake from Clay, Ceramics & Glass, grade 12, Desoto Central High School, educator Merrileigh Rutherford
- Charlize Clark, Gratitude, Ceramics & Glass, grade 12, Desoto Central High School, educator Merrileigh Rutherford
- Isaak Pierce, Emerging from the Night, Photography, grade 10, Lausanne Collegiate School, educator Todd Cowden
- Jaslyn Macon, Blossoming Youth, Drawing, grade 9, White Station High School, educator James Dycus
- Joshua Haynes, Called Forth, Photography, grade 12, Southaven High School, educator Lori Lucas
- Lily Zent, There's More to Life Than Checkups with the Psychiatrist, Photography, grade 11, Bartlett High School, educator Amanda Tutor
- Long Do, Another Day, Painting, grade 12, White Station High School, educator James Dycus
- Madeleine Auger, My First Tank, Sculpture, grade 11, Lausanne Collegiate School, educator Jonathan Auger
- Madeleine Auger, No Vacancy, Mixed Media, grade 11, Lausanne Collegiate School, educator Jonathan Auger
- MiAngel Temple, Looking Down on Childhood, Photography, grade 10, Bartlett High School, educator Amanda Tutor
- Noah Hand, Dinky, Film & Animation, grade 11, University High School, educator Melanie Spillman
- Sarah Juarez, Hold Onto Me, Sculpture, grade 12, Contemporary Arts Memphis, educator Amy-Beth Rice
- Thiago Escobar, punishment of the ghost, Photography, grade 10, Bartlett High School, educator Amanda Tutor
Honorable Mention
- Long Do, Through Day and Night, Painting, grade 12, White Station High School, educator James Dycus
- Louis Frankel, Pink Diamonds, Painting, grade 12, Contemporary Arts Memphis
Founded in 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation's longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative students in grades 7-12. Gold Key recipients from regional competitions proceed to national judging, where works are evaluated for originality, technical skill, and personal vision. National medalists are selected from this pool, with American Visions nominees considered for the American Visions Medal.
“I’m proud of these young artists and thrilled to see them recognized on a national stage,” said Zoe Kahr, Executive Director of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. “Their achievement speaks to the power of Memphis creativity, reflected in our students and their dedicated teachers."
The Mid-South national honorees and their educators are invited to National Awards Week, June 9-11 in New York City, where Gold Medal recipients are honored at Carnegie Hall.
The national awards build on the momentum of the 2026 Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards, where more than 1,100 works were recognized regionally and over $650,000 in scholarships were awarded. The regional exhibition — featuring more than 200 works by students from grades 7–12 — was on view at the museum earlier this year, drawing attention to the exceptional depth of talent across the Mid-South. National medalists are eligible for additional honors, including exhibitions and further recognition through the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.
The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art has served as the regional affiliate for the Scholastic Awards for decades, providing a platform for students across the Mid-South. The program remains one of the most direct pipelines connecting young artists to higher education, scholarships, and national exposure.
The Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards are presented annually by the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art through its partnership with the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, with support from the Brooks Museum League, Pinnacle Financial Partners, the Art Now Collective, Derek Fordjour, the family of Marcia Bicks, and Milton & Maggie Lovell.
As the museum prepares to open its new downtown home as Memphis Art Museum in December 2026, art education remains central to its mission. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the new 123,500-square-foot campus on the Mississippi River will significantly expand the museum's capacity to serve students, educators, and families through dedicated learning spaces, public programs, and community partnerships. From early learning through early career, the museum is committed to providing meaningful pathways for young people to engage with art, develop creative and critical thinking skills, and access national platforms for recognition and advancement.
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About Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and Memphis Art Museum
Opening in December 2026 along the Mississippi River, Memphis Art Museum is the reimagined home of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. As a 123,500-square-foot cultural campus, it offers expanded galleries, abundant public spaces, and new studios for learning and creativity. Designed as an open invitation to the city, the museum serves as a home for creativity and community, where Memphians and visitors gather, connect, and experience the power of art. With world-class architecture, a rooftop sculpture garden, and year-round cultural programming.
Media Contacts:
Kelly Helton, kelly.helton@memphisartmuseum.org | 901-590-6935
Cover image: Joshua Haynes, Silent Release, Photography, grade 12, Southaven High School, educator Lori Lucas
For full press release, please refer to the downloadable PDF.