Leota art students Deedee Gertz, Jamin Lau, Brian Oler, Shruti Sridhar, Jasmine Stewart, Abby Theige and Chelsea Wu received Scholastic Art Awards from the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers and their artwork is on exhibition at the Seattle Center’s Cornish Playhouse during the month of January. Olivia Oomen and Ashleigh Barker’s art pieces received Gold Key Awards and advance to the national Scholastics Competition in New York City.

The Scholastic Awards have identified and showcased teens with exceptional artistic and literary talent since 1923. The Awards have grown to become the nation’s highest honor and largest source of scholarships for creative teenagers. Notable alumni include Richard Avedon, Joyce Carol Oates, Truman Capote, Lena Dunham, John Updike, Sylvia Plath, Zac Posen and Andy Warhol.