Three DP Art seniors were recognized for excellence at the 2021 Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards on January 28, 2021. Awarded the Silver Key were Grace Gehrich, Sophia Holmen, and Laney Tapia. Gehrich and Holmen were also recognized with Honorable Mentions along with seniors Amara Kennedy, Breana Alexander-Higa, and Kaitlyn Taaca.
Founded in 1923, and presented by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the country’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative students in grades 7–12. Visual arts entries are judged by leaders in the visual arts who look for works that exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision. This year, 167 students from 32 schools received honors in the regional competition.
Award winning artwork from the competition will be displayed at the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum (HiSAM) from March 12 – April 16, 2021. A special virtual award ceremony on March 12 will officially open the 58th Annual Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition.
“The DP Art senior’s artwork is very reflective of their personal journey – there are pieces that speak to living in COVID-19, pieces that honor family legacy, and experimental works that push the boundaries of their internal struggles,” shares Jené Komine, Secondary Art teacher. “I am beyond proud of all of our seniors for how willing they are to be vulnerable and stretch themselves in and through their work.”
Congratulations, Navigators and Ms. Komine on your impressive accomplishments!
See the award-winning artwork below:









