Brimming with imagination, talent, and bold perspective, the 2025 Hillsborough County Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards lit up the University of South Florida’s College of Design, Art & Performance this May. From gallery walls to the mainstage, students in grades 7 through 12 showed what happens when young artists and writers are given space to explore and the power to express their personal vision.
Presented in partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools, the college welcomed more than 350 visitors to the School of Music and the Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery on the USF Tampa campus. The numbers tell a story of impact: 1,223 student submissions, 465 awards granted across art and writing, and 27 judges made up of curators, educators, and creative professionals. A total of 120 standout works were featured in the weeklong exhibition.
Students and parents view student's works in the Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery
“The arts empower students to tell their stories and shape their world,” said Karen Perez, District 6 and Board Vice Chair of Hillsborough County Public Schools. “This kind of achievement does not happen in a vacuum. To our educators, mentors and families, and our community partners, thank you. Your support creates the spaces young talent can grow and thrive.”
The national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, founded in 1923 and presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, continue to serve as a launchpad for emerging talent. Students submit original work across multiple categories—from poetry to painting to digital art. Each piece is judged blindly, with an emphasis on originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice. Gold Key winners advance to the national level, joining a legacy that includes names like Sylvia Plath, Andy Warhol, and Stephen King.
Student Maryam Alsharif shows off her piece "Despondent" in the Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery.
Laura Hobby, Supervisor of Visual and Theatre Arts Education for Hillsborough County Public Schools, highlighted the significance of the setting. “We’d like to extend our special thanks to the University of South Florida’s College of Design, Art & Performance for partnering with us again this year,” said Hobby. “Access to these wonderful spaces gives students and their families the opportunity to experience the arts in a university setting and allows a larger audience to view their works.”
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards continue to be a powerful reminder of the creative talent found in our schools and communities. With continued support from educators, families, and institutions like USF, that creativity is not only nurtured—it flourishes. To learn more about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, visit www.artandwriting.org.