Hillsborough County Region 2021

Presenting Sponsor Hosted By

“To give those high school students who demonstrate superior talent and achievement in things of the spirit and of the mind at least a fraction of the honors and rewards accorded to their athletic classmates for demonstrating their bodily skills.” − M. R. Robinson, 1923, Founder of Scholastic, Inc.

Joining a Legacy By receiving a Scholastic Art & Writing Award, our students join a legacy of celebrated authors and artists such as Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay WalkingStick, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates and Andy Warhol, all of whom received recognition in the Awards when they were teens.

National Submissions This year, teens ages 13 and up from across the nation in grades 7-12 submitted more than 110,000 works of art and writing to the Awards through more than 100 local Affiliates of the Alliance. These Affiliates host exhibitions in museums and galleries across the country, showcasing their best art and writing.

About the Awards The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s largest, longest running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for teenage artists and writers. Since 1923, the Awards have recognized teenagers from across the country for their unique vision and voice in 29 categories including architecture, painting, flash fiction, poetry, printmaking, video game design and more.

Recognition After the Awards National Medalists will be announced in March 2021, and Gold Medalists will be celebrated virtually for the National Ceremony. All National Medalists are eligible for a wealth of additional opportunities, such as inclusion in the Art.Write.Now.Tour traveling exhibition, and in The Best Teen Art and The Best Teen Writing anthologies. National Medalist poets are considered for the National Student Poets Program, the nation’s highest honor for young poets presenting original work.

Hillsborough Region 2021 Art & Writing Awards

Virtual Ceremony: March 4, 2021 EducationFoundation.com/ScholasticArtAndWritingAwards

Exhibition: March 5th-13th, 10 AM-6:30 PM Scarfone/Hartley Gallery, The University of Tampa

Contributors

Event Presenting Sponsor Suncoast Credit Union Cindy Helton, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation Executive Director

Event Co-Host Hillsborough Education Foundation Royce Reed, Board of Directors Chair Kim Jowell, CEO

Event Co-Host Hillsborough County Public Schools Addison G. Davis, Superintendent Regional Art Affiliate: Erin Saladino, Supervisor, K‐12 Art Education Regional Writing Affiliate: Lory Reddel, Supervisor, Secondary Literacy

Exhibition Host The University of Tampa David Gudelunas, College of Arts and Letters Dean Jocelyn Boigenzahn, Director of University Galleries

2021 Hillsborough Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Presenting Sponsor:

2021 Hillsborough Region by the Numbers:

In our seventh year serving as the Hillsborough Region Affiliate for Art & Writing, students entered more than 1,500 submissions, with 327 writing entries and 17 writing portfolios along with 1,163 art entries and 27 art portfolios.

Our regional judges selected 247 art awards and 96 writing awards, including 82 Gold Key Awards, 96 Silver Key Awards and 165 Honorable Mentions. From the Gold Key Awards, judges then selected 5 American Visions Nominees for art and 5 American Voices Nominees for writing.

Exhibition Host:

The Hillsborough Region of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards extends thanks to The University of Tampa, College of Arts and Letters for their support in hosting students, teachers, and families at this 2021 Art & Writing Exhibition.

Special thanks to: About the Judging Freedom of Expression: There are no restrictions or mandates on subject matter.

Blind Judging: Judging is determined on a merit basis with only the art object under review. Judges do not have knowledge of the students’ identities.

Three Criteria: Originality, Technique and Emergence of a Personal Vision or Voice

Originality Judges look for works that reveal an innovative approach to process, concept and subject matter. Originality often manifests itself in works that go beyond the classroom assignment. Exploration of materials, techniques and/or themes should reflect the input of the student in the creative process.

Technical Skill Judges look for demonstration of the student’s ability to work fluently within a particular medium or genre. Technical proficiency may vary across medium or grade group. Judges are called to consider how technical skill has been utilized to advance an original idea or perspective.

Emergence of a Personal Vision or Voice Judges look for evidence of the writer/artist’s unique style, sensibility and perspective and how that is displayed through the piece of writing or art. Judges are looking for work that represents a sense of the student of works that are individualistic in their presentation, execution or ideas.

2021 Hillsborough County Region Art & Writing Awards Judges Shawn Amos Michael Lewis George Anderton Jane Murray Lewis Janice Andrews Mark Mai Patricia Beach Blaine Maurice Amanda Bedford Roger Mills Terry Bigelow Courtney Nucjel Elizabeth Brown Marta O’Brien Autumn Dent Victoria Pagel Kimberly DeFusco Erin Parke Lynn Dougherty Eva Philpot Holly Ewing Mary Ross Kristen Ferrin Stanton Storer Jose Gelats Madeline Sweitzer Jennifer Gilgan Melisa Toothman Candice Hall Caroll Vick Jennifer Hamilton R. Lynn Whitelaw Julie Hauswirth

We also extend our appreciation to our generous sponsors of this year's Judges Awards—providing special recognition for specific art pieces the art judges felt are worthy of additional applause.

Emma Abel Elena Andrade Gwyneth Baehr Ghost Train Graves Disease Sheba Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Grade: 11 T. R. Robinson High School Riverview High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Susan DiFederico Teacher: Emily Griest Teacher: Terrie Forester Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Shannan Adams Neija Arroyo Aidan Bai The Flood Rat Dragon Emotions Grade: 11 Grade: 11 Grade: 11 Plant High School Brandon High School T. R. Robinson High School Teacher: Christina Porcelli Teacher: Erin Mulvihill Luke Teacher: Susan DiFederico Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Award: Silver Key

Iman Ahmed Maia Atlas Carolina Barcenas Wilt of the Flower Lo Siento (I'm Sorry) Dainty Flowers Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Grade: 10 Hillsborough High School Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Caitlin Clay Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Terrie Forester Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention

Iman Ahmed Maia Atlas Isabel Baudrit Not Found Photographing the Stars: An Reflection of Me Grade: 12 Ode to the Hubble Telescope Grade: 11 Hillsborough High School Grade: 11 Bloomingdale High School Teacher: Caitlin Clay Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Diana Speedy Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key Kristina Alexander Isabel Baudrit Return to Antiquity Maia Atlas My friend Eli Grade: 12 Challenger Grade: 11 T. R. Robinson High School Grade: 11 Bloomingdale High School Teacher: Mary Wilson Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Diana Speedy Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Daniel Almaguer-Rojas Isabel Baudrit Isolation Tommy Aviso MLK Grade: 12 The Sidewalk View Grade: 11 Middleton High School Grade: 12 Bloomingdale High School Teacher: Christine Munoz Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Diana Speedy Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Molly Dressel Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Ana Alvarado Isabel Baudrit The Beginning of the End Alaina Babb Your Face Lies Dormant In Grade: 12 the peacock My Mind Howard W. Blake High School Grade: 9 Grade: 11 Teacher: Molly Dressel Berkeley Preparatory School Bloomingdale High School Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Jennifer Martin Teacher: Diana Speedy Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Catherine Amburgey Daisy Scouts Gwyneth Baehr Hudson Beachy Grade: 9 Madeline Hudson Beachy Portrait Berkeley Preparatory School Grade: 11 Grade: 10 Teacher: Terrie Forester Berkeley Preparatory School Berkeley Preparatory School Award: Gold Key Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Jamie Farkas Award: Award: Silver Key Honorable Mention Hudson Beachy Lily Belcher Adam Bennett Kitty Krunch Cereal Back To The Bases Band Logo Grade: 10 Grade: 11 Grade: 11 Berkeley Preparatory School Durant High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Jamie Farkas Teacher: Elizabeth Lennon Teacher: Jamie Farkas Award: Silver Key Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention

Hudson Beachy Katie Bell Adam Bennett Andrew McCutchen Typography Trance Adam's Portrait Grade: 10 Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Jamie Farkas Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Jamie Farkas Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Hudson Beachy Katie Bell Davis Boling Leave Me Alone Album Cover In Too Deep In memory of Stan Lee Grade: 10 Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Jamie Farkas Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Jamie Farkas Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key

Josie Behar Katie Bell Noelle Booth Lankin Dome Patience Candle Poster Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Grade: 9 Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Stephanie Stuefer Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Jamie Farkas Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Josie Behar Katie Bell Sarah Boyd Kabuki Vessel Almost Anticipating Your Call Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Steinbrenner High School Teacher: Stephanie Stuefer Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Kris Watkinson Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Josie Behar Katie Bell Sarah Boyd A Little Dream Tomorrow Tea Time Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Steinbrenner High School Teacher: Stephanie Stuefer Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Kris Watkinson Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Grace Beilman Katie Bell Audrey Brandt Perfect Poison Dissonance Relaxation, Interrupted Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Steinbrenner High School Howard W. Blake High School Riverview High School Teacher: John Vona Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Emily Griest Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Grace Beilman Carla Beltran Reagan Brown Shoulders Venezuelan Childhood Surrealism Piggybank- Cactus Grade: 11 Grade: 11 Grade: 11 Steinbrenner High School Durant High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: John Vona Teacher: Aaron Bowers Teacher: Stephanie Stuefer Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key

Reagan Brown Keith Cassidy Daniel Chavez Finger Sculpture In the hoop Tech-Ocean Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Berkeley Preparatory School Freedom High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Stephanie Stuefer Teacher: Ryan Lavigne Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention

Rocco Cafaro Keith Cassidy Emerson Combs celebrity in color Black and white Hand Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Grade: 8 Newsome High School Freedom High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Jes Otterbacher Teacher: Ryan Lavigne Teacher: Stephanie Stuefer Award: Gold Key Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention

Gabriela Caldeira Ella Castellano Violet Correa Bearing Fruit Achilles' House of Cards The Violet and Timmy Show Grade: 10 Grade: 11 Grade: 8 Berkeley Preparatory School Berkeley Preparatory School Davidsen Middle School Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Stephanie Stuefer Teacher: Vanessa Smith Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Award: Silver Key

Gabriela Caldeira Audrey Cecil Zuhe Costa On the Docks Don't Look at Me Lacking Control Grade: 10 Grade: 10 Grade: 10 Berkeley Preparatory School Berkeley Preparatory School Alonso High School Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Matt Beharry Teacher: Shane Heath Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention

Devon Caldwell Audrey Cecil Sara Coughlin Motherhood Who is Who? Pop Smoke Grade: 11 Grade: 10 Grade: 11 Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Matt Beharry Teacher: Terrie Forester Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key

Sienna Caldwell Audrey Cecil Gabriella Davis Surrealist The Swimmer We're All Fighting Growing Old Grade: 11 Grade: 10 Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Stephanie Stuefer Teacher: Matt Beharry Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key

Ben Canning Emma Centrone Gabriella Davis Paranoia The colors and shapes of Identity A Letter From a Coward Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Grade: 12 Howard W. Blake High School Plant High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Brian Taylor Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention

John Carter Heath Chancey Gabriella Davis Galactic Puffs Project Pathways Kiosk [Redacted] Grade: 10 Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Jamie Farkas Teacher: Stephanie Stuefer Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Award: Silver Key

Gabriella Davis Kennith Donaldson Elaine Feaster Agent Goldilocks the worlds ending Whispering Woods Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Freedom High School Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Ryan Lavigne Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Saige Davis Mia Duran-Rivas Holden Fernandez Drawing Making Representation 2020 Vision Grade: 11 Grade: 8 Grade: 10 Brooks Debartolo Collegiate High Orange Grove Magnet School Jesuit High School School Teacher: Hilda Muinos Teacher: Kathleen Clark Teacher: Madeilynann Mitchell Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Abigail Ellis Carolina Fernandez Noriega Brantley Deady B&W niñez Album Cover Grade: 10 Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Jamie Farkas Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Camila Estrada Carolina Fernandez Noriega Ryan DeAngelis Lock-down piscina Clouded Thoughts of an Angry Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Bastard Berkeley Preparatory School Berkeley Preparatory School Grade: 10 Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Terrie Forester Howard W. Blake High School Award: Gold Key Award: Gold Key Teacher: Emma Chandler Camila Estrada Carolina Fernandez Noriega Award: Silver Key Ternura communication Nata'jah Diggs Grade: 12 Grade: 11 The Rabbit Hole Berkeley Preparatory School Berkeley Preparatory School Grade: 12 Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Terrie Forester Howard W. Blake High School Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key Teacher: Casey Curry Alexa Evangelista Carolina Fernandez Noriega Award: Gold Key, American queen of color ventana Voices Nominee Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Nata'jah Diggs Plant High School Berkeley Preparatory School Prayer Teacher: Brian Taylor Teacher: Terrie Forester Grade: 12 Award: Gold Key Award: Silver Key Howard W. Blake High School Simeon Fagbodun Izael Figueroa Teacher: Casey Curry Solitude Latinx Locks Award: Silver Key Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Kennith Donaldson Middleton High School Riverview High School Garbage day Teacher: Christine Munoz Teacher: Emily Griest Grade: 12 Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Howard W. Blake High School Muhammad Falah Leah Fisher Teacher: Casey Curry Ain't that a Kick in the Head? Pink vs. Blue Award: Honorable Mention Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Paul Wharton High School Riverview High School Teacher: Curt Steckle Teacher: Emily Griest Award: Gold Key Award: Gold Key

Taylor Ford Sarah Frank Alice Gonzalez Faces a blur in the background an elegy to procrastination Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention

Taylor Ford Daniel Gabriel Alice Gonzalez Etching Neon Lights the cartoon villain Grade: 11 Grade: 8 Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Davidsen Middle School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Vanessa Smith Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Elliot Francolla Benjamin Gamez Alice Gonzalez The Good Old Days Octo Tentacle An Elegy To My Kindergarten Grade: 10 Grade: 7 Teacher: Santa Santiago Plant High School Beth Shields Middle School Grade: 12 Teacher: Brian Taylor Teacher: Juan Duarte Howard W. Blake High School Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Silver Key Sarah Frank Miriam Gamson A Pandemic in Poetry The Little Red Shirt Alice Gonzalez Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Patient Zero Howard W. Blake High School Brooks Debartolo Collegiate Grade: 12 Teacher: Casey Curry High School Howard W. Blake High School Award: Silver Key Teacher: Andrea Rinard Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Silver Key Award: Silver Key Sarah Frank Upon Reflection Amari Gant Alice Gonzalez Grade: 12 The Lady Mae Henderson The Four Horsemen Howard W. Blake High School Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Teacher: Casey Curry Dr. Lennard High School Howard W. Blake High School Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Kristen Hebbard Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Gold Key Award: Gold Key Sarah Frank The Suburban Dream Venecia Garcia-Jimenez Alice Gonzalez Grade: 12 Zoe, My Little Angel The Pianist Howard W. Blake High School Grade: 8 Grade: 12 Teacher: Casey Curry Orange Grove Magnet School Howard W. Blake High School Award: Gold Key Teacher: Hilda Muinos Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Sarah Frank Love is Cold Grey Gayle Mea Gonzalez Grade: 12 spiraling ITS TIME TO ACT Howard W. Blake High School Grade: 10 Grade: 9 Teacher: Casey Curry Plant High School Howard W. Blake High School Award: Gold Key Teacher: Brian Taylor Teacher: Molly Dressel Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Sarah Frank Vinyl Records on Repeat Alice Gonzalez Nicole Gonzalez Grade: 12 against the gold, in the blue Then I wrote. Howard W. Blake High School Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Teacher: Casey Curry Howard W. Blake High School Tampa Preparatory School Award: Gold Key, American Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Mia Franz Voices Nominee Award: Silver Key Award: Silver Key

Katherine Griffin Elena Hangen Mia Harbaugh Chapel Cat Red Thread Connection The Ghost Of Orion Ryker Grade: 8 Grade: 10 Grade: 12 Burns Middle School Walter Sickles High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Pamela Reeves Teacher: Eric Milan Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Award: Silver Key

Sarah Grove Mia Harbaugh Abigail Harnetty Abstract Lion Larkspur - an elegy to my roots Jaws in the Sky Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Riverview High School Howard W. Blake High School Bloomingdale High School Teacher: Emily Griest Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Diana Speedy Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention

Jordyn Gwinner Mia Harbaugh Gaby Hernandez The Deal Skeletons Person Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Grade: 8 Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Thaddeus Erdahl Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Award: Silver Key

Quinten Hall Mia Harbaugh Gaby Hernandez Prohibido. Journal Entry Number 12 - Shadow Grade: 11 Excerpt From Chapter Eleven Grade: 8 T. R. Robinson High School Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Susan DiFederico Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Thaddeus Erdahl Award: Silver Key Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Mayra Hernandez Isabella Haman El Asado Drowning Mia Harbaugh Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Great Lakes - an elegy to Howard W. Blake High School T. R. Robinson High School Marlene Teacher: Lenny Cabanero-Harvey Teacher: Mary Wilson Grade: 12 Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Casey Curry Mayra Hernandez Keira Hamilton Award: Silver Key La Feria de Las Flores Heavenly Body Types Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Mia Harbaugh Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School The Airport Teacher: Lenny Cabanero-Harvey Teacher: Stephanie Stuefer Grade: 12 Award: Gold Key Award: Gold Key Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Casey Curry Samuel Hernandez Elena Hangen Award: Silver Key Sam the Great The Red Couch Grade: 11 Grade: 10 Mia Harbaugh Howard W. Blake High School Walter Sickles High School In A Mask Teacher: Emma Chandler Teacher: Eric Milan Grade: 12 Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Casey Curry Joseph Hickerson Elena Hangen Award: Silver Key Solis and Luna Hidden Heritage Grade: 11 Grade: 10 Mia Harbaugh Brooks Debartolo Collegiate High Walter Sickles High School Journal Entry Number 12 School Teacher: Eric Milan Grade: 12 Teacher: Jennifer Gilgan Award: Silver Key Howard W. Blake High School Award: Silver Key Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Honorable Mention Ariana Hill Jolina Jasperson Jzsleigh Johnson Paradise Beetle Backpack Black in America Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Lenny Cabanero- Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Honorable Mention Harvey Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Ariana Hill Zahed Kachhi Creature Jolina Jasperson Zahed Movie Poster Grade: 11 Strawctopus Grade: 9 Howard W. Blake High School Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Linda Galgani Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Jamie Farkas Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Lenny Cabanero- Award: Honorable Mention Harvey DJ Hooker Brooklyn Kash Award: Silver Key Holes Mainstream Rebel Grade: 11 Jolina Jasperson Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Revelations Durant High School Teacher: Jamie Farkas Grade: 12 Teacher: Emily Godheim Award: Silver Key Howard W. Blake High School Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Linda Galgani Wren Hoversten Olivia Kasper Award: Gold Key Poster Design Hallucinations Grade: 9 Jolina Jasperson Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Butthead Hillsborough High School Teacher: Jamie Farkas Grade: 12 Teacher: Caitlin Clay Award: Silver Key Howard W. Blake High School Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Linda Galgani Wren Hoversten Olivia Kasper Award: Gold Key Stop Motion Animation Lonely Grade: 9 Annabelle Jenkins Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Ukulele Business Card Hillsborough High School Teacher: Thaddeus Erdahl Grade: 9 Teacher: Caitlin Clay Award: Gold Key Berkeley Preparatory School Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Jamie Farkas Zev Huneycutt Kendall Ker Award: Honorable Mention CERES Logo Life span Grade: 10 Jamarion Jenkins Grade: 11 Berkeley Preparatory School portrait submission Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Jamie Farkas Grade: 11 Teacher: Terrie Forester Award: Silver Key Middleton High School Award: Silver Key Teacher: Christine Munoz Camelle Jasmin Luna Khan Award: Honorable Mention Broken Minds Trailer Hope Grade: 12 Brooks Johnson Grade: 12 Spoto High School Cereal Box King High School Teacher: Grace Regan Grade: 12 Teacher: Michele Prado Award: Honorable Mention Berkeley Preparatory School Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Jamie Farkas Jolina Jasperson Krista Kilburg Award: Silver Key Heading Out "Teddy" Grade: 12 Jzsleigh Johnson Grade: 11 Howard W. Blake High School 1820-2020 Begin Yet Again Steinbrenner High School Teacher: Linda Galgani Grade: 11 Teacher: John Vona Award: Gold Key Howard W. Blake High School Award: Gold Key Teacher: Casey Curry

Award: Silver Key

Catherine Kraack Olivia Elle Lawson Emma Lefferts Shaded Thoughts Everlasting The Politics of Phi Zeta Beta Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Tampa Preparatory School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: John Bamford Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Catherine Kraack Peyton Lawson Jenneh Lesaldo Decks of Duality Lightbulb Moment Adoration Grade: 11 Grade: 11 Grade: 11 Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Lenny Cabanero-Harvey Teacher: Lenny Cabanero- Teacher: Tom Brandt Award: Gold Key Harvey Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Catherine Kraack Chela Levy Blindly Submerged Peyton Lawson The Instant Deformation of a Grade: 11 Self Portrait Butterfly in Pixels Howard W. Blake High School Grade: 11 Grade: 8 Teacher: Lenny Cabanero-Harvey Howard W. Blake High School Orange Grove Magnet School Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Lenny Cabanero- Teacher: Hilda Muinos Harvey Award: Honorable Mention Catherine Kraack Award: Honorable Mention October Haley Lipkins Grade: 11 Brianna Lee Giraffe in the City Howard W. Blake High School Frame of Mind Grade: 10 Teacher: Lenny Cabanero-Harvey Grade: 11 Riverview High School Award: Honorable Mention Paul Wharton High School Teacher: Emily Griest Teacher: Curt Steckel Award: Silver Key Carter Kreis Award: Honorable Mention Music Andrew Livingstone Grade: 11 Brianna Lee De opresso liber Jesuit High School Whose Hues Grade: 9 Teacher: Kathleen Clark Grade: 11 Berkeley Preparatory School Award: Honorable Mention Paul Wharton High School Teacher: Matt Beharry Teacher: Curt Steckel Award: Honorable Mention Kendall Kudla Award: Gold Key Andrew Livingstone Squiggles Venecia Lee Chase Grade: 10 Despair Grade: 9 Berkeley Preparatory School Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Stephanie Stuefer Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Matt Beharry Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Gold Key Megan Laurion Award: Gold Key, American John Paul Llanos On The Edge Visions Nominee The American Song of Hopes and Grade: 12 Venecia Lee Dreams Durant High School Mommy! Grade: 11 Teacher: Emily Godheim Grade: 12 Jesuit High School Award: Honorable Mention Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Kathleen Clark Olivia Elle Lawson Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Honorable Mention Fallen Angel Award: Silver Key Zachary Long Grade: 12 Outhouse Berkeley Preparatory School Grade: 12 Teacher: Terrie Forester Hillsborough High School Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Caitlin Clay Award: Honorable Mention

Laura Lopez Jacob Maskin Kaitlyn McHugh Trapped The Vengeance of Anubis Big Pond, Small Fish Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Howard W. Blake High School T. R. Robinson High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Susan DiFederico Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention

Laura Lopez MIclaude Masseus Kaitlyn McHugh House of Smoke Three Insecurities Monochrome Rainbows Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Grade: 12 Howard W. Blake High School Sumner High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Valerie DeLuca Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Isabella Macchione Akshita Mathur Kaitlyn McHugh The Truth Behind The Dinner Bell Lost Generation Playing with Lives Grade: 10 Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention

Aryana Makati Akshita Mathur Kaitlyn McHugh Helping the Heroes Patterns of Personality Strong Heart in Spirit Grade: 9 Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Christine Ortega Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Casey Curry Gaurkee Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Akshita Mathur Kaitlyn McHugh Yaryan Maldonado Seams of Myself On Lacking a Medical Degree scanner Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Gold Key Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Akshita Mathur Amelie McLeod Wilmer Marcano Where is My Reflection? The Dream Sequence SI3 Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Berkeley Preparatory School Hillsborough High School A. P. Leto High School Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Caitlin Clay Teacher: Jackie Lucas Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Alisha McCue Amelie McLeod Juan Martes Hurricane Her Krazy & Trippy Grade: 10 Grade: 11 Grade: 11 Howard W. Blake High School Hillsborough High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Caitlin Clay Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Bradley McElfatrick Natalie Medina Julian Martin My dog ate my homework Talam Lust Grade: 9 Grade: 9 Grade: 11 Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Lenny Cabanero-Harvey Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Maya Mehta Adriana Mininno Cheyenne Muldowney The Crown faith Heather Grade: 10 Grade: 11 Grade: 10 Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Matt Beharry Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Molly Dressel Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key

Emily Melendez Pranshu Modi Amanda Murdock Longing Alone Quiet Grade: 12 Grade: 8 Grade: 11 Howard W. Blake High School Louis Benito Middle School Walter Sickles High School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Cheyanne Causby Teacher: Eric Milan Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention

Emily Melendez Pranshu Modi Danica Muroff The Light Through the Trees Time Goes Fast Color effervescent Grade: 12 Grade: 8 Grade: 9 Howard W. Blake High School Louis Benito Middle School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Cheyanne Causby Teacher: Terrie Forester Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention

Emily Melendez Kiara Moore Nandita Nair Life in the Vivid Dream Buried Alive The Red Tree Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Grade: 9 Howard W. Blake High School East Bay High School Hillsborough High School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Kiara Moore Teacher: Caitlin Clay Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key

Olivia Milburn Jenna Morris Kai Nelson Watercolor In the Midst of it All Biden Challenges Trump to Push- Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Up Contest in Lieu of Debate Howard W. Blake High School Durant High School Grade: 10 Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Aaron Bowers Tampa Preparatory School Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key Teacher: Erin Mona Award: Gold Key, American Voices Olivia Milburn Jenna Morris Nominee Kitchen Sink 45 Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Mia Nguyen Howard W. Blake High School Durant High School Pressure Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Aaron Bowers Grade: 10 Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Plant High School Teacher: Brian Taylor Drew Miller Jenna Morris Award: Honorable Mention Emotion #2 Self Portrait Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Nina Nijjer Howard W. Blake High School Durant High School Holy Avocado Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Aaron Bowers Grade: 8 Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key Burns Middle School Teacher: Pamela Reeves Trip Miller Giana Moussa Award: Honorable Mention TTYL Light Rainbow Concept Artwork Grade: 11 Grade: 10 Allysa Nobeza T. R. Robinson High School Berkeley Preparatory School Pandemic Teacher: Susan DiFederico Teacher: Jamie Farkas Grade: 12 Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key T. R. Robinson High School Teacher: Mary Wilson

Award: Honorable Mention

Melissa Norman Misha Patel Kaia Poisall Dull Reflection Childhood Movie Poster boys n the hood Grade: 11 Grade: 9 Grade: 12 Sumner High School Berkeley Preparatory School T. R. Robinson High School Teacher: Valerie DeLuca Teacher: Jamie Farkas Teacher: Susan DiFederico Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key

Isis Oliver Anushka Patil Kaia Poisall The Diversity of Dance Postmodernism in Hamilton quaranteen Grade: 8 Grade: 9 Grade: 12 Progress Village Magnet School Berkeley Preparatory School T. R. Robinson High School Teacher: William Talenti Teacher: Susan Alexander Teacher: Susan DiFederico Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

Jaquelin Pallares Nico Paula Melissa Quintana Less Lonely Black Eyed Susan's Garden Me Grade: 11 Grade: 11 Grade: 9 Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Riverview High School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Matt Beharry Teacher: Emily Griest Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key

Kaia Parker Ryan Pettaway Aubrey Rahaim Landscape of Blake The Cure For the Protection Spell Cody Grade: 10 Grade: 10 Grade: 12 Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Terrie Forester Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key

Madison Parker Ryan Pettaway Serena Ramos City Separation of Powers Self-Portrait Grade: 9 Grade: 10 Grade: 11 Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention

Cicely Parris Ryan Pettaway Serena Ramos Awakening Lonely the Night Wings in the Wardrobe Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Grade: 11 Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Emma Chandler Award: Gold Key, American Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key Visions Nominee Ryan Pettaway Serena Ramos Cicely Parris Time Grows Impatient Rose Necklace Shelf Space Grade: 10 Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Emma Chandler Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Kaia Poisall Isabel Reyes Alisha Patel see you soon Ignorance is Not Bliss Into a New World Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Grade: 9 T. R. Robinson High School Howard W. Blake High School Walter Sickles High School Teacher: Susan DiFederico Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Eric Milan Award: Gold Key Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention

Isabel Reyes Devyn Rolls Gianna Settimi Grounding Exercise for Stressful The Teenaged Anarchist Skewed Blue Line Situations Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Howard W. Blake High School Hillsborough High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Caitlin Clay Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key Award: Gold Key Devyn Rolls Gianna Settimi Astro Rivera Sunny 2020 or 1963 Dewy Day Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Grade: 10 Howard W. Blake High School Hillsborough High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Caitlin Clay Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key, American Award: Honorable Mention Visions Nominee Yaraida Santos Idelisse Rivera Regret Kyle Shah Salana Grade: 10 Postmodern Analysis of the Film Grade: 8 Howard W. Blake High School "US" Martinez Middle School Teacher: Lenny Cabanero- Grade: 11 Teacher: Lori Deitz Harvey Berkeley Preparatory School Award: Silver Key Award: Silver Key Teacher: Susan Alexander Award: Silver Key Jared Rivera Santiago Shantal Sarmiento Only A Dream The Ax Forgets, But The Tree Katy Shonka Grade: 8 Remembers Self Portrait Davidsen Middle School Grade: 9 Grade: 9 Teacher: Vanessa Smith Sumner High School Berkeley Preparatory School Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Valerie DeLuca Teacher: Terrie Forester Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention Rachel Rizzi A Cruel Reflection Valentina Sarrin Mendoza Katy Shonka Grade: 12 Valkyrie Mama Tampa Preparatory School Grade: 10 Grade: 9 Teacher: Stephanie Cardillo Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Award: American Voices Teacher: Lenny Cabanero- Teacher: Terrie Forester Nominee, Gold Key Harvey Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Hadassah Roberts Katy Shonka Bricks in the Night Zaim Sawar I Wish I Could Remember Grade: 12 ZaimSawar_BuisnessCards Grade: 9 A. P. Leto High School Grade: 9 Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Jackie Lucas Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Terrie Forester Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Jamie Farkas Award: Gold Key Award: Gold Key Hadassah Roberts Katy Shonka Room of Mirrors Sha-Nia Sawney Dream or Memory? Grade: 12 How To Make American Pie Grade: 9 A. P. Leto High School Grade: 10 Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Jackie Lucas Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Terrie Forester Award: Silver Key Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Honorable Mention Award: Gold Key Hadassah Roberts Katy Shonka Disturbed Psyche Eating the Clouds Grade: 12 Grade: 9 A. P. Leto High School Berkeley Preparatory School Teacher: Jackie Lucas Teacher: Susan Alexander Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Irena Shpak Marissa Smith Cydney Socias Noodle Where The Sand Meets the Sea Antiquities for Venus Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Walter Sickles High School Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Eric Milan Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key, American Visions Nominee Irena Shpak Marissa Smith Chillin' Time Fades in the Midst of a Cydney Socias Grade: 12 Pandemic Recuerdos de Abuelita Walter Sickles High School Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Teacher: Eric Milan Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Award: Silver Key Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Ali Siddiqui Ali's: The Arcade in Space Marissa Smith Cydney Socias Grade: 9 Musings of Music Ornaments of a working woman Berkeley Preparatory School Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Teacher: Jamie Farkas Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Evan Simmers Artist's Burden Olivia Smith Cydney Socias Grade: 10 Colors Generations Bloomingdale High School Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Teacher: Diana Speedy Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Award: Gold Key Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Anvi Singh Technology as Represented in Ciana Socias Jaeda Solon the Movie The Truman Show 2020 Solstice The Hypothetical Love Poem Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Berkeley Preparatory School Howard W. Blake High School Steinbrenner High School Teacher: Susan Alexander Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: John Vona Award: Gold Key, American Award: Gold Key Award: Silver Key Voices Nominee Ciana Socias Mason Steeno Zoë Sleeter Summer Symphony The American Revolutionary The Heavy Crown Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Howard W. Blake High School Riverview High School Hillsborough High School Teacher: Casey Curry Teacher: Mike Zelazo Teacher: Scott Sleeter Award: Silver Key Award: Silver Key Award: Gold Key Ciana Socias Mason Steeno Marissa Smith Perfect Words Tomb of the Unknown A Dying Star: An Elegy to My Grade: 12 Camaraderie Brother Howard W. Blake High School Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Teacher: Casey Curry Riverview High School Howard W. Blake High School Award: Silver Key Teacher: Mike Zelazo Teacher: Casey Curry Award: Honorable Mention Ciana Socias Award: Honorable Mention Earth on Heaven Ethan Stephanis Grade: 12 Alone Howard W. Blake High School Grade: 11 Teacher: Casey Curry Howard W. Blake High School Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Molly Dressel Award: Gold Key, American Visions Nominee Ethan Stephanis Chloe Sweet Krystal Tolle Running Horse Jane Doe Spectrum Of Being Grade: 11 Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Howard W. Blake High School Alonso High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Lenny Cabanero-Harvey Teacher: Shane Heath Teacher: Linda Galgani Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Honorable Mention

John Stewart Amiyah Sykes Krystal Tolle Accidents Happen, Oh Lord (Hear Hidden Beauty Chained To The Memories My Prayer), Overflowing Pond of Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Tears Durant High School Howard W. Blake High School Grade: 10 Teacher: Emily Godheim Teacher: Emma Chandler Howard W. Blake High School Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention Teacher: Casey Curry Archie Teller Phuoc Tran Award: Honorable Mention Frederick Douglass The Sisters Ashwatha Suresh Grade: 11 Grade: 12 unnamed Jesuit High School A. P. Leto High School Grade: 11 Teacher: Kathleen Clark Teacher: Jackie Lucas King High School Award: Silver Key Award: Silver Key Teacher: Jessie Peña Francheska Tellez Noah Trevino Award: Honorable Mention Princess of the Castle Rebirth in Flames Ashwatha Suresh Grade: 11 Grade: 12 Of Shaving Ice and Horizontal Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Eights Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Casey Curry Grade: 11 Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key King High School Angelina Tello Noah Trevino Teacher: Jessie Peña Quetzalcoatl The Voice Between the Worlds Award: Gold Key Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Ashwatha Suresh Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School EHYEHASHER EHYEHASHER Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Casey Curry Grade: 11 Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention King High School Angelina Tello Penelope Ubau Teacher: Jessie Peña Hush Now, Quiet Now Marks Award: Gold Key Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Ashwatha Suresh Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Sanguine; Allah Cries with Mama Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Emma Chandler Grade: 11 Award: Silver Key Award: Honorable Mention King High School Ethan Tiejema Penelope Ubau Teacher: Jessie Peña Inner Challenges Outer Legacy Built on Lies Award: Silver Key Grade: 11 Grade: 10 Chloe Sweet Jesuit High School Howard W. Blake High School The blade that the mind relies on Teacher: Kathleen Clark Teacher: Lenny Cabanero-Harvey Grade: 11 Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Alonso High School Krystal Tolle Kiara Vazquez-Valentin Teacher: Shane Heath Of many faces Roadkill Brooch Award: Silver Key Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Linda Galgani Teacher: Emma Chandler Award: Silver Key Award: Silver Key Kiara Vazquez-Valentin Olivia Walters Sabrine Warid Juntos en la Cocina Under the Wheel Mya 3 Grade: 12 Grade: 9 Grade: 10 Howard W. Blake High School Berkeley Preparatory School Spoto High School Teacher: Molly Dressel Teacher: Terrie Forester Teacher: Grace Regan Award: Gold Key Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key

Camila Velasquez Gabriela Wang Bubble Pop Bloom Grade: 11 Grade: 9 Howard W. Blake High School Howard W. Blake High School Teacher: Lenny Cabanero-Harvey Teacher: Molly Dressel Award: Honorable Mention Award: Silver Key Congratulations 2021 Hillsborough Region

American Visions and American Voices Nominees

Five American Visions Nominees (Art) and five American Voices Nominees (Writing) are selected at the regional level from the Gold Key Awards. A national jury selects 1 to earn the Hillsborough Region American Vision Award, and 1 to earn the American Voices Award.

Senior Gold Key Portfolio Awards

Senior students are able to submit a portfolio that represents their range of talents within either writing or art. Of those submitted, judges identify the best as Gold Key Portfolios which are reviewed at the national level for a possible National Gold Medal and $10,000 Scholarship.

We invite you to read and view these outstanding works on the following pages.

Special Awards are graciously provided by our Presenting Sponsor:

Writing Gold Key Portfolio Art Gold Key Portfolio Winner Winner Muhammad Falah, Wharton High School Emily Melendez, Howard W. Blake High School Ain’t That a Kick on the Head Life in the Vivid Dream Writing Gold Key Portfolio Winner Muhammad Falah, Wharton High School

Miguel

Michael Fester was an ordinary man. He lived an ordinary life in his ordinary house with his ordinary possessions. Each ordinary day Michael did ordinary things. He mowed the lawn. He exercised. He did his taxes. Nothing particularly interesting ever happened to Michael. That is, until he attended his Spanish class, for the first time. Most people attend a second language class for the same reason: to learn a new language. Michael attended a second language class for the thrill. He felt invigorated to get out of his ordinary house. To come inside the dilapidated classroom of the back of a sweatshop and be surrounded by college students and minorities brought ecstasy to Michael’s day. On Michael’s first day of Spanish class, he made his way into the dilapidated sweatshop, passing the overworked “employees”, and into the classroom. Michael sat in his wooden chair, looking around the classroom. Michael counted 23 people. There were 23 people in that classroom. He turned to face the twelfth person to talk. “Hey. Why are you taking this class?” “I’m a businessman. And, this is gonna sound stupid, but I wasn’t aware that there were other businessmen who could speak spanish. Now, I gotta take this class so I don’t become obsolete.” “You didn’t know that there were spanish speaking businessmen?” Before the businessman could defend himself, a large Puerto Rican man walked into the classroom. His suit was mahogany in shade, and purple in stain. He addressed the class with a smile and a Spanish accent. “Hola, class!” The class stared back, confused. “Oh right. Sorry. Hello, class.” Everyone greeted the large Puerto Rican man. “My name is Mr. Felix, and I am your Spanish teacher. I am here to make sure you all are able to understand and speak the beautiful language of Spanish. Now, let’s go around the classroom and learn everybody’s names. One at a time, everybody say their name, starting from the left and down.” MARY JEN LINK BARTHOLOMEW Karl Suzie The list continued, until it was Michael’s turn. Michael felt so much energy and adrenaline that he couldn’t focus on his name. He was just too excited. Mr. Felix tried to snap him back into focus. “Hey. Buddy. C’mon. It’s your turn.” Michael fell back into reality. Upon falling back, Michael must have hit his head, because he had made a mistake only a person with a head injury could make. “Oh. Sorry. Miguel.” The albino class looked at Michael, awestruck. Mr. Felix was even more surprised. “Miguel. I like that name. I expect great things from you Miguel.” Michael didn’t correct the mistake. The excitement of his stupidity clouded his judgement. The class began, and so did Miguel’s story. Michael absorbed the information uttered by Mr. Felix. He took it in but did not take it out. It remained in the crevices and folds of his brain for the assignment that would change his life. “Ok class. Your first assignment is to write me a sentence about what you did the other day, in Spanish. Easy.” It was easy. Michael felt confident in his ability to complete this simple task. “However, since this is a very smart and capable class.” Uh-oh. “I expect none of you to cheat. Specifically, none of you should use translators. If I find out any of you cheated, you will fail.” Instead of adrenaline, anxiety flowed through Michael like blood in his veins. He sat at his desk wondering of all the ways he could mess this up. And how badly it would look for Miguel. At home, Michael sat at his desk, pencil in hand. The translator on his table beckoned for him. He felt inclined to reach for it, but was afraid of what might happen. Michael thought about all the horrible embarrassment that Miguel would endure if he was exposed to have used a translator. Miguel’s don’t use translators. And neither would Michael. Michael gripped the pencil, and began to write. The translator, to Michael, was Pandora’s Box. If he opened it, all hell would break loose. If he didn’t, he would get a zero. He opened up the translator and typed in his sentence. I hung out with my friends. Short and sweet. Just the kind of sentence Miguel would write. The next day, Michael turned in his homework. He watched Mr. Felix look it over and grade it. Suddenly, Mr. Felix looked up at Michael. He was disappointed. “Miguel. Is this what you did yesterday?” Michael nodded his head, lying for Miguel. “So, you are saying that this sentence is completely true?” Again, Michael nodded. “Ok.” The police apprehended Michael the next class, because of an anonymous tip Mr. Felix had provided. As Michael was being hauled away, Mr. Felix looked to his class and explained the moral. “And that class is why we don’t use translators.” In spanish, on Mr. Felix’s desk, was Miguel’s homework.

“Colgué a mis amigos” (I hung my friends) Art Gold Key Portfolio Winner Emily Melendez, Howard W. Blake High School

Dreams are one of the strangest phenomenon to exist in this world. A universal human experience, yet one that can never be fully understood. Dreams string together familiar and unfamiliar places, faces of friends and those of strangers, forgotten and remembered memories, fragments of our lives and unconscious mind as a whole... I have strived to visualize these bizarre recollections within my portfolio, by combining, layering, and e diting various polaroid and phone images of moments in my own life. In attempt to achieve a hazy and indefinite look, one that is reminiscent of my own dreams and memories. Nataj’ah Diggs, Howard W. Blake High School American Voices Nominee: Poetry The Rabbit Hole

My grandmother’s house was split into two Like many homes after Katrina She never got to fixing up both sides, Like many people after Katrina

The abandoned side was a fortress Of wooden plank trees, Dust that sparkled like stars, Boxes with taped up treasures And the rigidity stairs, Which was the bridge That lead to our Castle

We weren’t supposed to play there So it become our little secret Operation Rabbit Hole The laundry room become A cave Where the big machines hid The secret passage

When we reached the other side Everything felt different The queen was gone And the whole world Was Ours

And so we played hide and seek Sung the songs from Sabbath School Whispered secrets heard while at church Laughed until our stomachs hurt Sometimes we fought Or laid there Until we could hear the car pull up There was always something to do Or something to find When we were in Wonderland

But then I didn’t visit for three years And when I arrived My cousins didn’t race out the door, My siblings were older And the house didn’t seem to shine the same

No one brought up The secret place And I wondered how Everything changed without me

I’d try to go there, I wanted something That I’m still unsure of, When I pushed aside the machines I was stunned The hole was patched up I knew that I was older But I hadn’t realized that meant I’d be forced from Wonderland

Sarah Frank, Howard W. Blake High School American Voices Nominee: Flash Fiction Vinyl Records on Repeat He lives his life on repeat. He wakes up in a racecar bed, tucked into his navy sheets, warm and cozy. He falls asleep with a smile on his face and it stays there till the sun rises. His happiness was never endangered by what lie outside his doors.

Despite falling asleep to the silence of an empty house, he wakes up to voice yelling at the top of their lungs. It’s Mom and Dad, tearing each other to pieces.

Nick slides out of bed and runs to his twin.

“Ricky, Ricky, wake up.” Nick pokes and prods his brother till his eyes flutter open.

“What? What is it?” Rick asks. He reaches for his nightstand and fumbles for his glasses.

“Mommy and Daddy are fighting again. I don’t know why they can’t just say sorry and hug.”

“Daddy wasn’t home at bedtime last night,” Ricky said. “Mommy was probably lonely.”

Nick flips onto Rick’s bed.

“C’mon, we gotta get ready.”

They both pull the first thing from their wardrobe and put it on, then sneak into the hallway.

The voices have quieted. The twins move downstairs on tiptoes. Nick is first to see the broken glass and light brown liquid on the floor. It smells strong and sharp, burning his nose.

“What’s that?” Nick asks his brother, pointing to the mess on the floor. Their parents were nowhere to be found, only the remnants of their latest argument.

“Bad stuff,” Rick answered.

Nick nodded. “Let’s just eat our secret cereal.”

It was Rick’s turn to nod, and the two headed upstairs. Rick gently closed their bedroom door behind him and clicked the lock. In the meantime, Nick pulls the stale cinnamon cereal from the closet. Rick holds out his hands, cupping them so the cereal wouldn’t fall out. Nick pours some out for himself, and they eat in silence.

“How much do we have left?” Rick asks.

Nick shakes the box. “Not much. A couple days, maybe.” He then licks the extra cinnamon sugar off his fingers and stows the box back into the closet.

“Boys? Are you ready for school?” Their mother’s voice is just loud enough for them to hear.

“Let’s go.” Rick dusts off his pants and grabs his book bag. It’s weighted with library books and notebooks filled with ideas and stories. Nick’s bag is barren, filled by only a couple notebooks and a broken pencil.

Mrs. Powell’s face glitters in the dim lamplight of their kitchen. It’s easy to see she’s been crying: the bags under her eyes speak volumes.

“Mommy, are you okay?” Nick asks.

She smiles, though her lips don’t part. “Yes, sweetie. I’m okay.”

Mrs. Powell herds them out the front door and they are hit with cool morning air. Nick jumps up and down, hands to the sky, and runs through the overgrown grass to the car. He lets his hands run through the soft blades, and he feels invincible.

The Powell family truck looks forlorn under the maple tree. A precarious tire swing hangs from a weak branch, a reminder of better times. Nick hops into the backseat, his brother beside him. Their mom ambles to the front seat and with half-hearted motions, starts the car.

The ride to school is silent, as Mr. Powell smashed the radio months ago and Mrs. Powell never felt up to getting it fixed. Nick and Rick don’t know what to say, and Mrs. Powell’s mouth is dry and aching. She is speechless.

Nick’s face is pressed against the glass. He watches their overgrown grass be swallowed in the distance. Curiously, he holds his fingers up to his nose and then licks one. If he tried his hardest, he could still taste just a little bit of cinnamon. Kai Nelson, Tampa Preparatory School American Voices Nominee: Humor Biden Challenges Trump to Push-up Contest in Lieu of Debate

On September 24th the Biden Campaign issued a challenge to President Trump in the form of a tweet, with Joe Biden posting a video of himself doing ten push-ups, and then pointing to the camera and saying “your turn” before tagging Trump. When reached for comment, the Biden Campaign said, “Joe used to do push-ups with Barack every day. It’s really a way of connecting to his roots, and it’s a contest that he can definitely win.” At a rally later that day, Biden himself spoke about the upcoming contest, saying, “Folks, we’re at a crossroads in American democracy. And it’s vital that we make the right choice. I will do more push-ups than Donald Trump, and I will win back the soul of America. Think about the kitchen table. Think about the empty seat at that table. Now think about me, a seventy- eight year old white man with abnormally shiny teeth doing push-ups in that seat.” Reporters were unable to pick up the rest of the speech, but later, members of the audience reported hearing the former Vice President mutter “malarkey” and “buckaroo”. When the President was reached for comment, he responded by saying, “I can do many many many push ups. Believe me. Many people are saying that I can do more push ups than anyone. A lot of people tell me, they tell me: ‘Donald, I’ve never seen anyone do so many pushups.’ Sometimes I do push ups with Melania on my back. The number of pushups I can do has never been seen before, ever.” A recent poll by the Associated Press showed that 62% of Americans prefer this format to that of a regular debate. When approached on the street, 44 year-old John Hapley of Minneapolis said that “It just seems like at this point a contest of physical strength between two white men in their seventies is an accurate representation of American Democracy”. Ally Steiner of Atlanta, a 53 year-old elementary school teacher, commented: “Isn’t this basically what we’ve been doing this whole time?” Preceding the event, “Q” of the conspiracy theory “QAnon” posted the following cryptic series of questions and statements: “Where is Joe Biden training? What are in his protein shakes? The blood of children who play varsity sports? The same children who were kidnapped by a secret liberal cabal? Where is Hillary Clinton? Russia is involved (not yet). ANTIFA? What about Communism, huh? What’s up with that? Hmm? Obama? What’s he up to? Haven’t heard from Oprah in a while. Suspicious! If you rearrange the letters in the word ‘Democrat’ it spells out ‘I hate America’. Ever think about that? Nancy Pelosi hates McDonald’s. Checkmate liberals.” Leading up to the contest, Trump has repeatedly attacked Biden for “preparing” and “practicing”. He has also complained about the socially distanced format of the debate, saying that a vital part of his strategy involves “lots of coughing.” The push up contest will be broadcast live on all major cable networks at 8pm EST on Tuesday, September 29th. It will be moderated by Dwayne the Rock Johnson. Update: 1:45pm, Monday, September 28th: The Trump campaign released a statement saying that the President will not be participating in the pushup contest, citing “Bone Spurs”.

Rachel Rizzi, Tampa Preparatory School American Voices Nominee: Science Fiction A Cruel Reflection

This story begins as all things do, in darkness. A place that knows only silence and cold, being and not being. A place that is home to all unconscious thoughts, to truths ignored, and illusions believed. A place where the world is reflected back on itself and where a figure walks through it. The figure is untroubled by the cruel landscape around them for it is cruelty on which they thrive. They wear dark clothes fitted to their long limbs and a cloak of living night that shrouds them in shadows. Cloth wrapped boots ripple the liquid floor one would think glass if not disturbed, the eerie glow of a green orb nestled in the figure's hand bouncing off its surface. Eyes accustomed to nothingness search through it until there is something. Their footsteps hurry in anticipation as they approach an opening casting golden light in the darkness. The figure raises the orb, leaving it to float in the air next to them as they gaze at the opening's shimmering surface. The motion like that of lapping waves until the figure places their palm against it, causing it to still. The opening reveals a dimly lit room with a great red curtained bed, dark wood floor covered in matching red carpets, and a large vanity overspread with bottles and powders. The figure waits, searching for any motion, but after long seconds it becomes clear that the room is empty. So, with their palm, they push against the smooth surface creating a single crack, they push harder and the crack grows. Only when the fracturing overtakes the once pristine surface does their hand phase through. The figure steps into the opening, shattered pieces gliding out the way as their feet hit the dark wood. The figure's nose becomes suffocated by the aroma of flowers and roasting meats. Ears attuned to silence rattle with the sounds of laughter and music floating through the floorboards. For a moment it is overwhelming, but as they look over their shoulder to the mirror they had just walked through, it is as if invisible chains have fallen from their wrists. The figure quickly jumps back through the mirror but instead of entering an endless void they are encircled by numerous glowing openings of all shapes and sizes. For by finding a mirror large enough to enter the house the figure now has access to control any surface shiny enough for a reflection to be seen. There are openings that appear to be mirrors of long, short, rectangular, and circular showing long hallways and many more luscious bedrooms. The figure sees a great kitchen full of mortals running this way and that, preparing plates from the view of what seems to be hanging pots and spoons. One even appears to be a spotless floor reflecting the ceiling and hanging chandeliers. The figure’s gaze does not stray as their interests solely lie on the openings showing a great dining hall amid a party. The guests are mortals who wear lavishly horrid clothes as they drown themselves in drink. The figure's chest fills with a great heat and a wicked smile spreads across their lips as thoughts of endless cruelties take form. It is time to have some fun. Thus, with the night still young the figure moves from opening-to-opening causing chaos at each one. When no one is looking they reach a hand through mirrors, shiny plates, and polished floor. They pick pockets, tear at clothing, and trip mortals causing them to spill drink and food all over one another. The figure listens as fuzzy thoughts come through openings spoken as if underwater. Thoughts of vanity and insecurities as mortals catch glimpses of their reflections. Whispering into ears with a wicked tongue, the figure becomes delighted as their malice spreads causing thoughts never meant to be spoken to be shouted. Insults flying across the room from one's pearl necklace being fake to how another’s trust was betrayed. Soon it is fists being thrown instead of words. The figure grabs a plate of sliced fruits from the kitchen when a mortal's back is turned and finds their way onto the rafters, sly footing then stopping to stand still repeatedly, until directly above the party. Silently they lower themselves to a crouch, shifting their weight every so often. The figure pops pieces of fruit into their mouth or tosses them below, observing bewildered looks and heated accusations as fruit bounces off heads, lands on plates, and even splashes into full goblets. The figure bears a toothy smile as they look down, finding pleasure in the effects of their cruelty. They hold in their fits of laughter as the mortals scream in each other’s faces and even brawl on the floor. They love this feeling of using their power to control those below, and all of them being completely unaware of the deadly thing sitting not ten feet above them. The figure finishes off their plate and pulls a coin from their sleeve. It is a silver coin with a raised crescent moon on it, covered in dents from all their other mischievous outings. The figure continues to look down upon the mortals as they run the coin across their fingers, finding comfort in the familiar action. Unfortunately, the figure’s fun must come to an end as the clock strikes twelve, it is now time to fulfill the true reason they were sent here. Reaching into one of their many cloak pockets the figure pulls out a piece of paper with a hand drawn map of the house and instructions to follow. They had already memorized the paper but now confirm all the same. Looking into the crowd, the figure spots their target of an older mortal. He wears a suit of forest green that brings out the grey in his beard and has gold medals pinned over his heart. He is the host of this party and is currently distracted by all the chaos the figure has caused. Swiftly the figure uses what time they have and makes their way back across the rafters jumping without a sound to the top of where two great staircases meet. They head to the right wing of the house, sticking close to the walls so that the floorboards do not creak under their weight. The figure quickly approaches a door covered in carvings of trees and checks that no light shines through. Slowly they turn the stiff knob to avoid the squeaking of the hinges then enter shutting the door behind them. The room before them is an office lined with bookshelves, a great oak desk at its center, and a fireplace with a grand mirror sitting above it. The figure approaches the desk to see it covered in papers and a lamp, but what they want is within the bottom drawer as the map instructed. They reach under the lamp and pull away a small metal key, unlocking the drawer to find a letter stamped with a red waxy seal. Pulling an identical letter from their cloak the figure makes the switch and puts everything back as it was. The figure is now ready to leave without anyone knowing the wiser. The thought, however, causes them to slow as their stomach feels as if it is being hollowed out. For once again they were the perfect thief: never seen and never remembered. As insignificant as a fallen leaf and just as alone. The figure scales up the fireplace and goes through the mirror, searching for the red bedroom so that they can leave. Their gaze however snags upon an opening showing a room with dancing shadows. The figure walks towards the opening; curiously watching as a metal contraption spins around, making it appear as woodland creatures are racing across the walls. In the room are two mortals, one a small child lying in bed, the other the figure recognizes as the host. The figure observes as the man closes a book and leans over to kiss the child on the forehead. The figure places a hand on the opening so that they can hear, “Alright little one, that was your third story of the night, it is now time to sleep” The figure is taken by how the man's rough voice is full of such kindness, and even with a house full of distressed guests he still cares for his restless child. The love in his eyes is unquestionable. The figure draws their hand back from the opening and turns away, but instead of leaving they find an opening showing an unaccompanied goblet. Grabbing it, they find their way back atop the stairs sticking to the shadows as they lean over the balcony. The party has continued, cruelties from earlier traded for off key singing. The figure’s thoughts wonder at how the mortals could forget their grievances so fast, the kindness the man had for the child, and the hatred the figure had for all of them. Hatred for how they danced and laughed without a care in the world, but above all the figure hated how real the mortals seemed, and how they felt no more real than the wind. It was a hate so hot and bright that it warmed the figure and reminded them where every act of their cruelty was born from. As it washed over them wave after wave, they welcomed it. Tipping the goblet to their mouth the figure downs the drink to its dregs afterwards chucking the goblet away. They follow it as it hits the floor below with a clang, but no head turns in its direction. The motion and sound lost amongst the life of the party. “Are you a ghost?” Asks a light voice. The figure turns on their toes ready to attack whoever spoke only to be looking down at the mortal child. Tilting their head to the side they note the tight grip the child has on a toy bunny with a pink bow, and when they look into those young amber eyes they hold curiosity not fear. Kneeling down, the figure takes off the hood of their cloak to reveal salt white hair, delicately pointed ears, and silver eyes. “Do I look like a ghost?” The figure returns in a voice of honeyed malice. The young child’s eyes go wide as they clutch the bunny to their chest, little knuckles turning white. They look the figure up and down, then look right and back again. Surprisingly, the child does not cry out or run away, but instead answers the figure, “No, you look more alive than a ghost, but you aren’t in the mirror.” the child says pointing to their right. The figures lips curl into a smile, “Neither are you” The child stares at the figure with confusion before wiping their head to the long mirror hanging from the wall where only an empty hallway is reflected. The child quickly steps to the mirror bringing their face in close, breath fogging the surface. Still the child’s reflection is not shown, only the hallway with flickering candlelight. The child turns back to the figure with wide eyes from the strangeness. The figure runs their hand through the child’s messy brown hair and pushes it behind their small, curved ear, silver eyes trained on its utter difference. “You know what happens when you lose your reflection little one?” The child shakes their head. The figure drops their hand and turns the full intensity of their glare from the child’s ear to those amber eyes, “It is said that when you lose your reflection that you may never get it back. That you will disappear from the world, forever gone, and forgotten by all those you love” They pause watching the full weight of their words settle over the child as their tiny hands begin to shake. “However, there is a way to rescue your reflection. Would you like to know how to do it?” The child violently nods their head. “You can save your reflection by going back to bed and never uttering a word of what you saw tonight to anyone. If you do your reflection will never return and you will become trapped in cold silent darkness. No one will be able to save you, not even your father. You will be forever alone.’’ Their hard, cruel words hit true as the child’s bottom lip quivers, and eyes that were full of such curiosity fill with terror and swelling tears. They turn to hurry down the hall, most likely to hide under their covers and hope that this is just a nightmare. In that moment though, the figure feels no pleasure in their cruelty. They don't feel vicious or powerful. Instead, the hollowness returns and threatens to eat them whole along with cold hatred, but the figure is left wondering who it was they hated. “Wait,” the figure calls in a hushed tone as they pull out their silver coin. “Take this. It will help return your reflection, but only if you keep it a secret.” As they hand it over the figure tells themselves that this means nothing. That they are simply still messing with the child. All those thoughts dissipate though as they see those amber eyes become bright once again. The child turns the coin over in their hand, using their sleeve to wipe tears away and take a closer look. They run their thumb over the raised metal taken with curiosity. A smile grows on the child’s face as they turn to go back to their room. The child quickly stops and turns back to the figure in black that moved like a ghost and has eyes like the moon. They look down to their toy bunny and untie the pink bow handing it over to the figure with a bright smile. “Here, Lady Cottontail has a gift for you too.” The figure hesitantly takes the ribbon from the child and runs their fingers over its soft fabric and stares at its frayed edges. They are left staring at the ribbon as the child walks to their room. No longer wanting to be in the house the figure returns to the red bedroom and walks up to the mirror. They place their hand on it and see darkness shimmer across its surface with the faint green glow of the orb still there. They walk through the mirror grabbing the orb with their free hand. For the first time the cruel landscape weighs heavy on their shoulders and is almost too much to bear. The figure's words to the child echo in their head of being trapped in cold silent darkness. Forever alone. As the figure trudges on, they are left wondering why they were kind to the child. Their thoughts are interrupted as ahead of the figure another opening appears. No longer caring, the figure lets the green orb slip from their fingers silently sending ripples across the floor. The figure enters the opening into a small stone room light by a single torch. The only things that fill it are a wooden cot, desk, and the mirror they had just walked through. They breathe in the musty damp air and toss the ribbon onto their bed. They look to the metal door where halfway a ledge hangs out and a tray sits with food long gone cold. They take the food from the tray leaving the letter in its place for whoever’s job it is to collect it. Once placing their meal on the desk, the figure turns back to stare at the mirror, but no eyes stare back. That is the way some magic is: to use its power, you must give up something in return. Sometimes it is a choice you make in life, or it is decided by fate. In that moment the figures' hatred for fate does not surface, instead their thoughts return to wondering why they were kind towards the child. Perhaps the figure did it to punish the thing that keeps them in this room, maybe cruelty to a child isn’t the same as making an adult suffer, or the true reason. That they liked the feeling of being seen and didn’t want it to end. For when the child looked at them, they felt alive in a way more than trickery has ever provided. In the child's eyes they became more than a moving shadow, they existed. Then by leaving their coin the child would forever know that tonight was more than just a nightmare. The figure continues to look at the mirror, desperate that they might see something, but no reflection appears. Even if they had a reflection could they stand to look at it? At the reflection of a creature that convinces themselves that their wickedness is strength. A creature that convinces themselves that they exist even though no one knows their name. Scared that they know the answer to the question, the figure balls their hand into a fist and punches the mirror shattering it. The figure turns away and collapses on their bed with a loud thud. They shift to their back and grab the ribbon, holding it close to them, but it already feels as if it is disappearing from their grasp. They try to settle their racing heart and stare at the ceiling, imagining looking through stone and dirt until a starry sky with a full moon comes into focus. It doesn't help as heavy sleep threatens to return them to cold silent darkness. Before it does, the figure is left fighting off fear, and whispers to themselves, “I am real.” Anvi Singh, Berkeley Preparatory School American Voices Nominee: Critical Essay Technology as Represented in the Movie The Truman Show

Everywhere we look today the digital world surrounds us. Whether it be on the billboards in Times Square, in school, or even our personal lives, it has completely infiltrated every aspect of humanity. This increased presence of technology has had an extremely dramatic effect on how we as humans communicate around the world. This concept is largely discussed through the postmodern lens in the film The Truman Show. This movie follows the main character, Truman Burbank, and his journey to discover that his entire life has been fabricated by technology and displayed on a television show for the whole world to see. From a postmodern view, as society breaks apart from the standard forms of communication and learns how to connect in new and interactive ways, it is important to note the different effects that new influences and distractions have on conversation and relationships around the globe. In this postmodern world, authentic communication and conversation have been greatly hampered by technology's omnipresence in everyday life. The digital age has not only contributed to a world of white noise, filled with constant chatter and mindless entertainment, but it has also led humanity into further isolation. As highlighted in The Truman Show, the online world has largely prevented us from communicating by distorting reality and projecting false images of a perfect world as demonstrated in the making of Truman’s fabricated universe and his eventual awakening from his disillusionment. In the postmodern age, meaningful connections lose authenticity as the digital world blends reality and imagination, influencing not only our thoughts but our actions as well. A main theme throughout the movie is how the media portrays an image that is not always true. Seahaven, the town that Truman lives in, seems to be the epitome of the American dream. All the inhabitants of this town live in perfect houses with white picket fences and perfectly manicured lawns, there is peace and harmony. As Truman’s friend Marlon states, even nature is flawless: “Look at that sunrise Truman, it’s perfect.” Something so wild and unpredictable as nature is now perfect, illustrating that technology has even seeped into nature and the environment. The sunrise symbolizes that through technology, anyone can make anything look ideal and picturesque, even though that is not always the case. Nature’s manipulation through technology embodies postmodernism because Similarly, Truman’s life is seemingly perfect. He has a beautiful wife, stable job, and lives in a wonderful neighborhood. Many viewers who watch the television show envy this lifestyle which prompts them to behave and interact in ways that Truman would. This behavior is demonstrated through Meryl's constant advertisement of products on the show: The producers knew the audience would try to emulate exactly what would occur on the show in Truman’s life. So naturally they would want to use the same products that Truman and Meryl used. This copycat behavior demonstrates that what one sees online in the digital world is highly influential and eventually people want the online universe to become theirs. According to Ali Jayazeri, this behavior can create many problems: “Some people use this social media to create something that they are not, the virtual world can distract people so much from their real lives that they either forget who they are or become so involved in the reality they’ve created that they don’t want to work on their own issues” (“A Virtual Life”). The altered behavior that results from interacting online highlights the particular issue that technology and the digital world poses in humanity. Society, such as the viewers of The Truman Show, becomes so consumed with the idea of a perfect world which is displayed on the television, that they begin to create their own sense of reality. For example, there is a moment in the movie where it displays a mother taking care of her two children. Her baby is in the background crying for food yet the mother is transfixed with what is occurring on the tv. Normally, a mother’s reality should be her children and should be centered around them. However, these are not normal circumstances. As Jayazeri states, the digital world distracted her so much from her life that she quite literally forgot her ultimate role. She enters almost this lethargic state where even her bodily actions are controlled and consumed by the white noise surrounding her. And as a result, her child will never know a life without the TV playing. It was technology that stole this role from her and physically changed her identity by twisting her reality. If the entire world walks around in their own realities, how will people function, yet alone truly communicate with each other? Therefore, humanity's connection loses authenticity as people make the world out to be what they see, based on the digital world, not what it truly is. In a world of white noise, the perpetual chatter of technology and entertainment has consumed society as a whole, leaving it a shell of what it used to be. Throughout the film The Truman Show the entire premise is that the show documented every step of Truman's life. From his birth, to his first steps, to even his marriage, camera crews followed Truman everywhere. The show is quite literally a complete intrusion of technology on human life. However, instead of covering up the blatant lack of privacy, the producers and actors exploited this idea and used it to their benefit. Hannah Gil, who played Meryl, even stated, “My life is my life. My life is the Truman Show. The Truman Show is a lifestyle.” The TV series actually became a daily habit, something necessary to survive off of. How symbolic is it that for this actress, something so fabricated and artificial could take such a human form and become ingrained in the very fabric of life. Furthermore, not only did the T.V show become a part of daily life, it remained as such for 30 years. Therefore, many viewers grew up watching The Truman Show so much so that they became dependent on it. Christof states that viewers even look to the show to console themselves, “We find that many viewers leave him on all night for comfort.” Yet again another instance where technology has replaced human touch and connection. Normally, people would look to loved ones for comfort, however, technology and the digital are easily able to artificially take a human’s place, isolating society even more. The film's commentary on the TV-obsessed society demonstrates how much of a difference the digital world has made on humanity as a whole (O’Sullivan). Moreover, even when the body is not conscious the TV constantly has to be playing which demonstrates the pervasiveness of technology in life. It is inescapable. The constant white noise has many implications on human interactions and connectivity as a whole. Technology replaces human interaction as shows make up for the mental stimulation that society needs. Two characters that especially highlight this replacement are Christof and Meryl. Both are extremely integral parts of Truman’s fabricated life and both influence him in more ways than Truman can imagine, especially Christof. This influence is illustrated through Christof’s belief that he knows what is best for Truman: “Is that ultimately, Truman prefers his cell as you call it.” As the man who literally lives in the sky above Truman, Christof controls every aspect, big and small, of Truman’s life. In doing so, he almost takes this God-like status which represents that through technology man can even become God. Even today, social media influencers have such a sway on their followers that they can dictate their beliefs and actions, similar to God. Meryl, however, basically becomes a robot because of technology. She is never able to fully respond to Truman’s feelings and emotions: “Why don’t you let me fix you some of this new mococoa drink? All-natural cocoa beans from the upper slopes of mount Nicaragua. No artificial sweeteners.” Meryl cannot empathize with Truman and his worries. Technology and her real-life become so intertwined that she loses all real humanity becoming ultimately an inanimate object incapable of love. Instead, she reverts to her robotic script which, once again, is controlled by technology. As one can see, these are two people who have truly replaced technology in very different ways. They both believe that what they are doing from Truman is out of love, but this love is a facade. Love, which is such a human, and natural emotion is also dominated and controlled by technology. Consequently, Meryl and Christof have this false notion that what they feel for Truman is love. Before, society used to communicate face to face, however as The Truman Show demonstrates, people have figured out how to achieve this by never taking their eyes off the screen. The digital world greatly impacts communication because technology coerces people to accept what’s in front of them, not always what is true. A recurring motif throughout the film was the idea that Truman should have just accepted what was given to him and regarded it as “normal.” However, everyone who was of importance to him was an actor that was just placed in front of Truman and told to “act” like his mother, brother, or wife as Christof states: “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.” When Truman ran away with Lauren, also known as Sylvie, he broke away from the reality that he was given and was able to form a real connection with someone for the first time. Ironically, this occurred when they ran away from the large film crews and onto the secluded beach where they thought they were not being filmed. Furthermore, when Truman really examined the world that he was living in, As Roger Ebert states, his world becomes a commentary on how technology blinds humanity from seeing reality: You accept the world you're given, the filmmakers suggest; more thoughtful viewers will get the buried message, which is that we accept almost everything in our lives without examining it very closely” (Ebert). Once Truman began examining the world he was living in, the facade began to fall down. This is especially seen when Truman believes he saw his father on set. The deep-rooted event of his father “dying” comes back to life when the actor who played Truman's father hijacks the show. This causes Truman’s already disintegrating world to fall apart. The fact that even his own father (albeit fake father) lied to him shows the extent to which humanity will go to so gain acceptance in the digital world. Even his family is fabricated by technology. After this realization, the audience sees Truman’s cheerful, almost cartoon-like personality metamorph into a somber and pessimistic state. As Truman’s eyes were slowly uncovered the very dark truth of his reality came into light and ultimately Truman was left with a choice: stay in the plastic, fake world, or venture out into the wild unknown. This choice is the pinnacle of what postmodernism represents - emerging out of society and its constructs. This is symbolic of what would happen if society broke apart from technology and became less dependent on it, a very postmodern notion that calls for authenticity and naturality. One can see the omnipresent nature of technology and the digital world in everyday life have truly shaped how humanity interacts with each other. Not only does it distract society from creating meaningful connections, but it contributes to the constant white noise playing in the background of everyone’s lives, distorting their sense of reality. I learned a lot from my thesis and my journey working on this project. It taught me how consequential the small things in our daily lives are and how influential the media is. Additionally, I learned that I should occasionally take a step back from social media and really analyze what message it is sending. Is it teaching me to be a good person and have good values? Or is it trying to capitalize off of my easily influenced mind? All in all, although the digital world can be a wonderful platform to communicate with other people, it eventually leads to false conclusions and further isolates society. At the end of the day it is raw, unfiltered, conversations that help strengthen humanity’s connectivity and unity. Truman’s separation from the show represents just this. The fact that this man, who was lied to from infancy, who was oblivious to the outside world, and who up until the age of 30 had made no real human connection, was able to rise above technology and overcome it, speaks wonders about what the rest of society is capable of. A man whose odds were stacked against, overcame. If Truman was able to transcend above technology, it should be fairly easy for others to do as well. This is the choice humanity faces. As the late film critic Roger Ebert states, “Because we can engineer genetics, because we can telecast real lives--of course we must, right? But are these good things to do? The irony is, the people who will finally answer that question will be the very ones produced by the process” (Ebert). CREATIVE THINKERS AND MAKERS ARE MADE HERE. 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