Goshen wins record number of awards from Scholastic Arts


Goshen High School and C.J. Hooker Middle School didn’t just set a new record for Scholastic Art Awards received by the district this year, it was more than doubled. Just one year ago in 2024, Goshen’s entries set a new record that would only last one year, winning eight gold, 15 silver, and 12 honorable mentions. In 2025, the Gladiator’s artists established a new high in awards received: 23 Gold, 24 Silver and 38 Honorable Mentions. For seniors Lefa Brown and Katie Palau, the recognition reflects hard work they put in every day in Goshen’s art program. 

Lefa began participating in the art program at Goshen in fifth grade. This year, she was recognized for multiple entries to the Scholastic Arts awards, including a Silver award for her piece Sheryl Crow in the drawing and illustration category. The work came out of an assignment Goshen’s Chrissy Pahucki gave students: draw a famous person on a map of where that person is from. “Sheryl Crow is from Missouri and I love her,” Lefa said. “So I was like: ‘I’ll draw her with pen and ink.’”

Goshen student Lefa Brown smiles and holds her drawing of Sheryl Crow over a map of Missouri.

Katie Palau has been a part of the art program in Goshen for as long as she can remember. Like Lefa, Katie received multiple awards from her Scholastic entries, including a Gold award for Mood Wheel, a wooden sculpture of herself with an acrylic background that has wheels in more ways than one. 

“It’s only on wheels because it’s so heavy,” Katie said. “It’s on a gym scooter so that we can slide it around. It’s a big wooden wheel that spins and it stands up and there’s a cut out in front.” 

Katie Palau stands next to her wooden sculpture titled Mood Wheel.

Lefa feels like the awards Goshen students won this year through Scholastic are meaningful. “I think it’s getting recognition for your really hard work,” Lefa said. “A lot of these pieces that everyone did took three months. I think it’s nice to be recognized.”  

“I worked super hard for six months,” Katie said. “It feels really good to have someone recognize it.” 

See the award winning entries from Goshen students in this year’s Scholastic Arts awards here: 

Goshen High School Awards

American Vision Award

A painting of a girl looking in the mirror at herself. The girl is not smiling and her reflection looks back at her.
I am disappointed in you
Paulette Nedorost, 9th grade, Digital Art

Gold Award

Star Poodle – Gianna Peters, 10th grade, Film & Animation

Silver Award

Honorable Mentions

C.J. Hooker Middle School Awards

Gold awards

A sculpture of a cage hanging down by a string with lights all over from a structure with books hanging from the ceiling of the cage. There are papers on the ground below the cage. There are books on the structure arms that hold the cage up.
I am Trapped
Giuliana Kyles, 8th grade, Sculpture

Silver Award

Honorable Mentions