Southbury Student Maria Tapanes Wins Scholastic Art Award

SOUTHBURY, CT — Immaculate High School’s Maria Tapanes, a junior from Southbury, won a Scholastic Art Award for an original digital design “Headless Horseman.” Her artwork was used as the marketing image for the Danbury school’s "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" Drama Club production held in November.

Tapanes received the Regional Gold Key Award from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12. She is taking Intro to Art and 3D/Sculpture classes at Immaculate,and participates in the Art/Pottery Club.

"We are so proud of Maria for winning the Gold Key for her digital drawing," said art teacher Leslie Quinn. "Our Fine Arts program at Immaculate is designed to help every student discover their inner voice of self-expression using creativity and innovation. Her work is a wonderful example of that."

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has been encouraging young artists, writers and filmmakers since 1923. The prizes are presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization which empowers creative teens and celebrates their voices. Through the Awards, students receive opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarships. Other artists and writers who received some of their earliest recognition from the awards include Andy Warhol, Tschabalala Self, Joyce Carol Oates, Kay WalkingStick, Charles White and Stephen King.