Katy ISD student artists are gaining national recognition for their creativity and talent, with seven students earning National Medals in the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, one of the nation’s highest honors for young artists, the district announced on April 1.

Among the honorees, two students earned Gold Medals, placing them among the upper echelon of student artists across the country. Tompkins High school artists Shian Belen and Aadriyan Das and their art instructor, Christie Skinner, have been invited to attend the national awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City this summer.

Selected from hundreds of thousands of entries nationwide, National Medal recipients represent the highest level of artistic excellence in originality, technical skill and personal voice.

“This recognition places our students among the top young artists in the nation and reflects the exceptional creativity and dedication they bring to their work,” Katy ISD Assistant Director of Fine Arts Laura Simoneaux said. “Their success is a testament to their passion, the strength of our fine arts programs and the guidance of our outstanding educators who help cultivate and inspire artistic excellence.”

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, have recognized creative excellence among students in grades 7–12 for more than a century. National Medalists are selected through a rigorous judging process that evaluates originality, technical skill and emerging artistic voice.

Katy ISD continues to be recognized for its commitment to fine arts education, providing students with opportunities to develop their talents and showcase their work on local, state and national stages.

National Scholastic Art Award Winners

Student Name School Category Work Title Award

Shian Belen Tompkins High School Drawing Serene Night Gold

Aadriyan Das Tompkins High School Drawing Colors of the Sky Gold

Brenda Guzman

Quesada Freeman High School Drawing Blueprints of Life Silver

Keertika Dhonthinani Jordan High School Drawing Cowboy Beginnings Silver

Anaya Mody Jordan High School Drawing Affection Unleashed Silver

Javier Arguelles Katy High School Painting Onomatopoeia Silver

Holden Smith Seven Lakes High School Drawing Eye Contact Silver