Eight MHS students have been recognized in the 2025-26 Massachusetts Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, sponsored by The Boston Globe and presented by the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.

And, MHS students received four Gold Keys! Congratulations to:

• Deilyn Almengo ’28, in Experimental Photography for “Esperanza es la Belleza;”

• Alle Fudge ’28, in Ceramics & Glass for “Star Polyhedron,” and

• Selina Hu ’26, in Printmaking, for “Three-Inch Lotus” and in Sculpture, for “Responsibility of Reproduction.”

Also recognized from MHS are Idia Enoma ’26, who received Silver Keys for her poem, “Instructions for Grieving a House on Fire,” and in the Portfolio Category, for “She Rises with the Tide,” and Arianna Ndongmo ’26, recognized with a Silver Key in Painting, for “Beyond Your Grasp.”

Receiving Honorable Mentions are Natalia Boneo ’27, in Experimental Photography, for “Lucid Touch;” Ploy Jongjaroonrungson ’26, in Mixed Media, for “Where is Home?” and Irene Lee ’27, in Painting, for “Reverse,” and in Speculative Fiction, for “Earthling.” Selina also received Honorable Mentions for her painting, “Loving, Flying, Learning,” and her mixed-media piece, “Girls Puberty Education.”

The award-winning pieces were selected from more than 8,600 entries submitted by high school students statewide. This year’s contest saw student-artists earn 1,349 Honorable Mentions, 825 Silver Keys, and 611 Gold Keys.

Founded in 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running initiative supporting student achievement in the visual and literary arts. Students from across the United States, U.S. Territories, and Canada participate, and Gold Key work is submitted to the national Scholastic competition in New York City.

Selina, who received two Gold Keys, noted that ongoing exploration of women’s rights and history played a part in each of her pieces, which she created while expanding her portfolio beyond painting and drawing. For “Three-Inch Lotus,” she worked with paper typically used in Chinese drawing and writing, giving the piece a traditional look. “I like that it is old-looking, and I enjoyed the process,” Selina said. “I used different layers and colors, and I had to plan and think ahead.”

For “Responsibility of Reproduction,” she drew inspiration from her Biology and Biotechnology classes, and, specifically, the differences between the male and female pelvis, to explore issues of reproductive rights. First building her piece from clay, the finished product is bronze. “I enjoyed that process, too, but what I enjoy the most is that everybody sees and experiences the piece differently,” she added. “I had tried sculpture before, but not at this level, and I enjoy exploring and working with different materials.”

For “Esperanza es la Belleza,” Deilyn drew inspiration from researching artists who practice experimental photography and produce older-looking photos. “I was curious if they took the photos themselves or if they worked from pre-existing photos,” explains Deilyn, who took black-and-white photos, then put her own creative spin on them.

“I’ve always loved collaging,” she explained, adding that she also likes vintage black-and-white photography, but likes to add depth and flair to photos. “I listen to music a lot when editing, and I usually base my feelings in the photo or the message in the work off that,” she added. “In this piece, I wanted to convey a message of hope, of finding beauty in having hope. I really like editing, and I don’t take photos as often as I should, but I enjoy the process of making the photo my own and adding my own touch to it.”

For her “Star Polyhedron” series, Alle began by making a cube, then carefully attached a spike to each side. The biggest piece took a week, but as she gained proficiency, she created the smaller pieces in about a day, and she fired the collection in one batch. “I wasn’t concerned that they wouldn’t survive the firing process,” she explained. “I was more concerned with figuring out the glaze and making sure I was happy with how that turned out.” Ultimately, Alle chose a sandstone glaze that left behind distinctive black spots on the piece, and she mixed in an experimental underglaze.

“The whole project was a big experiment for me, because it’s an interesting shape,” Alle noted. “I did it just to see if I could do it. I enjoy being able to create what I want, without needing a rhyme or reason behind it.” And, satisfied with her six-sided pieces, she has already moved on to the next iteration — 12 sided!