District 99 Students Earn National Recognition in 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Four District 99 students have earned national recognition in the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and will have the opportunity to travel to New York City this summer to be honored for their artistic and literary talents.

Presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. This year, more than 110,000 students from across the United States and Canada submitted original works for adjudication.

Among this year’s national medalists are three District 99 visual artists. Downers Grove South senior Aili Flannery was awarded a Gold Medal in sculpture for the piece “Process,” under the instruction of teacher Janet Taylor. Downers Grove North senior Isaac Janusauskas earned a Silver Medal in jewelry for “Where Did the Time Go?” with guidance from teacher Robyn Bican. Also from Downers Grove North, senior Dashiell Speir received a Silver Medal in drawing for “Frenzied Whit,” mentored by teacher Marty Voelker.

In addition, Downers Grove South senior Ananya Kharat was named a national Gold Medal Portfolio Award recipient in writing - one of only eight students in the country to receive this honor.  Selected from more than 700 portfolios, the award represents the program’s highest distinction and includes a $12,500 scholarship.

All four students will be recognized at the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Ceremony on June 10 at Carnegie Hall.

For more information and a complete list of national award winners, visit artandwriting.org.