Hundreds of teenage artists from 14 Central New York counties submitted their best work for national and local recognition in the 2026 CNY Scholastic Art Awards.
More than 5,000 pieces of art were submitted and judged, and winners were selected at the 2026 CNY Scholastic Art Awards, sponsored by M&T Bank and hosted by Onondaga Community College.
Earlier this month, individual works and eight-part portfolios were judged by professional artists, educators and photographers. 1,487 pieces were selected to receive Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mentions in addition to special honors and cash prizes.
This year’s award-winning entries will be on display for free and open to the public through the end of February at OCC’s Whitney Applied Technology Center. Selected pieces will be on display from March 7 to April 5 at The Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse.
Following a special awards ceremony on January 20 at the SRC Arena on the OCC campus and a seven-week exhibition, the Gold Key entries will be sent to the national competition.
The Scholastic Art Awards Program, founded by Scholastic, Inc. in 1923, is the largest annual student art competition in America. The Central New York region has been running the program for more than 80 years and produced 24 national award winners last year.
Collections of Golden Key winners can be viewed using the links below, and special awards can be viewed using the links below:
If you go:
What: 2026 Central New York Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition.
Where: Whitney Applied Technology Center at Onondaga Community College, 4585 West Seneca Tpk., Syracuse, NY 13205
When: 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday; From 9:00 to 18:00 Saturday and Sunday until February 27. The campus is closed on January 19 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Special award
Purcell Construction Corp. Award for the best work in the field of architecture and industrial design
Kaitryn Pelnik-Wadsworth, New Hartford High School
Sage Scholars Educational Foundation Awards
The best work in polygraphy – Avery Evans, New Hartford High School
Best Work in Digital Art – Hari Yoganathan, Fayetteville-Manlius High School
Best 2-D Junior High Artwork – Emma Bailey, Wellwood High School
Best Junior High 3-D Artwork – Hadley Dellecese, Whitesboro Middle School
Clayscapes Pottery Award – Best entry in Ceramics and Glass, Creative Design
Hannah McHenry, Union Springs High School
Independent Potters Association CNY Award – Best Work in Ceramics and Glass, Functional Design
Ellis Solomon, Jamesville-Dewitt High School
Tracy L. Haylor Craftsmanship Award
Lilian Schick, Chittenango High School
Ron Hellmann Photography Award for Best Photograph
Hailey Ross, Liverpool High School
Syracuse Cultural Workers – Peace & Justice Awards
Lillianna David, Cicero North Syracuse High School
Rachel Gagnier, Mexico High School
Art Store Award for Best Painting
Julia Thet, Roman Free Academy
Art Store Award for Best Drawing
Brynn Akins, Union Springs High School
The American Visions Awards, which honor the “Best of Show” of all Gold Key artwork
Brynn Akins, Union Springs High School
Bryce Keller, Tully Jr./Sr. High school
Taylor MacCaull, West Genesee High School
Tiffany Seymour, Red Creek High School
Kairi Weber, Massena High School
Light Work Award for best photography portfolio
Crystal Potekhin, Chittenango High School
Onondaga Community College Award for Best Fine Arts Portfolio
Bryce Keller, Tully Jr./Sr. High school
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