Multiple HPA students collected awards from the Hawai’i Regional Scholastic Art Awards in February, highlighted by Ben Kubo ‘22, who received a Gold Key Award for his work “Stars Amongst the Night.”
Other HPA students who were recognized include Chris Dahlen ‘22, Kaisei (Mochi) Mochizuiki ‘22, and Chase Zucker ‘23. They each received Honorable Mention recognition. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12 and it is sponsored by the non-profit organizations Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.
Kubo’s mixed media work was exhibited during the 57th annual Hawai‘i Regional Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition at the Hawai‘i State Art Museum on Oahu. Also, as a Gold Key winner, Kubo work will continue on to be judged at the national level.
Mochizuiki’s mixed media work “Ordinary Blue Sky Day,” Chase Zucker’s ink drawing “Double Blind,” and Chris Dahlen’s mixed media work “Fragmented” were all awarded honorable mentions in the competition. The national scholastic judging panels reviewed over 2,500 works of art during this year’s competition, so to even receive an honorable mention is no small task.
Kubo was unable to accept his award because he was playing in the boys soccer state championships, so his teacher Sally Lundburg attending in his place. She later presented the awards to all the students at an assembly.
“It was awesome to travel to Honolulu for the Regional Scholastic Awards ceremony at the Hawaii State Museum, and to see all the great student work that is being done throughout the state. I’m pleased that HPA could be represented and I look forward to helping my students continue to enter work in future exhibitions,” says Lundburg. “Sharing your work in the public sphere is deeply rewarding — and humbling. And it is a powerful experience for our students to be publicly recognized for their hard work. I’m not surprised that Ben, Chris, Chase and Mochi were each recognized for their work in this statewide competition. In my experience as their teacher, I have found that each of them consistently challenges themselves and thinks critically about their artistic processes.”
Sharing your work in the public sphere is deeply rewarding — and humbling. And it is a powerful experience for our students to be publicly recognized for their hard work.”
—Sally Lundburg, Fine Arts Faculty
Since 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have recognized the vision, ingenuity, and talent of our nation’s youth, and provided opportunities for creative teens to be celebrated.
“To give those high school students who demonstrate superior talent and achievement in things of the spirit and of the mind at least a fraction of the honors and rewards accorded to their athletic classmates for demonstrating their bodily skills,” the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards founder Maurice R. Robinson is quoted as saying on the organization’s website.
HPA students will have their art displayed at upcoming events on the Big Island, including the 32nd annual Young at Art exhibition in Hilo from March 7-27 (opening reception March 7) and the 36th annual Waimea Arts Council Na ‘Opio Youth Art Show and Competition at Firehouse Gallery from March 4-29 (reception and awards March 8).