Students Earn Top Honors in Scholastic Awards

But she had to wait until she was in eighth grade to submit it for a Scholastic Writing Award.

“Every year, there are outstanding stories, and in my feedback on the story and report card comments, I will suggest that when the student is 13, they might consider entering their writing in the Scholastic Writing Awards,” Rathkopf explained.

Patience paid off for Beckwith, now an eighth grader, who checked in with Rathkopf each year until she was age-eligible to enter the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. 

This year, Beckwith took home top honors: a Gold Key award for “Nine Lives” in the Short Story category in Scholastic’s Hudson-to-Housatonic Writing Region. 

“The story is about a girl who chooses to prioritize her loved ones over tradition,” Beckwith said. “The derivation is the ancient Mayan culture that we were learning about in sixth grade history. Since it was a story for school, I wanted to connect it with other things I was learning.”

Rathkopf said, “I'm thrilled but not surprised that Wave can compete with older students across the region. She's got the soul and talent of an accomplished writer, and I think this is just the beginning of more awards and accolades. I will not be surprised to see her name as a byline or across the cover of a book one day.”

Beckwith, along with 11 upper school students, were honored for their writing, while 12 upper school students received accolades in the visual arts for their creative work. Leaders in their respective fields judged the entries based on originality, technical skill and the emergence of personal voice. All recognized entries are awarded either Gold Key, Silver Key or Honorable Mention status. Gold Key award recipients at the regional level are automatically considered for national awards in June. 

Miriam Emery, chair of the English Department, said, “We are so incredibly proud of our students who have been recognized by Scholastic, and we are so happy that so many of them have the confidence in their writing that would provide them with the motivation to share their work with an audience outside of Masters. It takes courage to see how one’s writing might be judged within a competitive forum.”

One of Emery’s students, Eunice Sien Wang ’25, earned a Silver Key award in the Portfolio (Writing) category for “Pieces of Wang.”

“Eunice has seriously pursued both reading and writing while at Masters, and has told me she would like to try and write a memoir this summer,” Emery said. Wang received four different Scholastic Writing awards last year.

In the visual arts category, several Masters artists were honored for their works in photography, painting, drawing and illustration. Jenny Ching Lui Xu ’25 racked up 10 awards in multiple categories from painting and fashion to drawing and illustration. Noa Benerofe ’25 received seven awards for her photography work. Sydney Starkey ’25 was honored with five awards for drawing and illustration.

Clio Foley ’25, Rory Frasch ’25 and Olivia Shim ’27 each received awards in both art and writing.

Upper school visual arts and photography teacher Rachel Langosch said, “They're all making such phenomenal work, so it doesn't surprise me that jurors are able to see that, which is why I encourage them to apply. It's really nice for them to get that recognition outside of the walls of this classroom in Masters Hall and into the wider community.”

Senior Emerson Riter was celebrated for her writing in a different category this past month. Her play, “A Hollywood Ending,” made its off-Broadway debut at the Chain Theatre’s Winter One-Act Festival, playing to sold-out audiences. Masters classmate Annabelle Rosenbluth ’25 directed the production, which stars another Masters classmate, Josie Leff ’25.

Riter first drafted the comedy whodunit in her Playwriting class at Masters two years ago. An expanded version premiered on campus during last year’s Spring Shorts, and this year, while taking Advanced Acting, she connected with Rosenbluth and Leff to bring the play to a larger stage.

At just 18, Riter is the youngest playwright ever selected for the festival, which features work by established and Tony-winning playwrights and directors. “Our first shows were met with a lot of praise from the theater community which was unbelievable!” Riter said. 

Congratulations to all!