The Island is home to many highly talented people, including several outstanding Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) students. Twenty-three Island student artists won a total of 33 awards in the 2026 Massachusetts Scholastic Art Awards.
The Gold and Silver Key awards are prestigious regional honors in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the longest-running program for creative teenagers in grades 7–12 in the U.S. These awards recognize exceptional artistic and literary talent, with submissions judged based on originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice.
“It was a huge delight to see so many of our young Island artists recognized,” says chair of MVRHS’ art, design, and technology department Chris Baer. “We have some amazing talent coming through here right now. It was also fun to see art in some unusual categories be recognized, like Comic Art, Experimental Photography, and Mixed Media.”
Seven students won the top prize, the Gold Key, and will go on to national competition this spring. Eight of them won Silver Keys. Two 12th graders won awards for their six-piece senior portfolios, and in addition to her two art wins, junior Katelyn Tankersley also won two Scholastic Writing Awards.
“We have seven students and eight pieces (three from freshmen!) who won Gold Keys, and so their work will be competing nationally this spring,” Baer continues. “That seems like a record for us right there. Fingers crossed we may see at least some of them recognized nationally.”
But that’s not all. “The MVRHS literary and art magazine, Seabreezes, was recently awarded the rank of Superior in the 2025 Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) program run by the National Council of Teachers of English,” Baer continues.
Student editors for Seabreezes include Highley Marsh, Caiden Gardner, Audrey Atkins, Adriana Young, Gaby Cuadros-Preston, Theo Harding, Lulu White, Griffin Craig, Emily Boyd, Josephine Powers, Everly Montoya, Harrison Lazarus, Danielle Meyer, Leelyn Thompson, Bryan Fernandes, and Isla Fairstein. Faculty advisors are J.H. Russell and Chris Baer. Additional layout assistance includes Tevin Araujo and Soraya Randolph.
Gold Key winners: Audrey Atkins, Ayla Strom, Eva Coelho, Harvey Proctor, Isla Fairstein, Katelyn Tankersley, Nayelli Vieira.
Silver Key winners: Danielle Meyer, Adriana Young, Anina Garvin, Antonina Kaluzna, Eva Coelho, Jaydon Fuller, Katelyn Tankersley, Maria Barros, Tahirah Waite.
Honorable mentions: Adagio Esposito, Amber Ventura, Anina Garvin, Antonina Kaluzna, Audrey Atkins, Caroline Cotton, Danielle Meyer, Gianni Navarrete, Zebediah Athearn, Hunter Broderick, Gus Coogan, Nova Smith.
