Luke Oh Wins Best in Grade Award, National Medal in Scholastic Art Award Competition

His photograph, “Fake Blue,” earned not only a Gold Medal distinction at the national level, but also a “Best in Grade” award—meaning that it was chosen as one of two of the best artworks by ninth graders in the entire nation. Only two writers and two artists from each grade (7–12) are chosen as “Best in Grade” each year, making Luke one of only 24 such winners in the entire country.

As part of the Best in Grade award, Luke will receive a $500 prize, and his photograph will be exhibited at the National Scholastic Art exhibition. The exhibition opens in New York and travels around the United States for the next two years. Luke's photography teacher, Alex Ball, will also receive a $250 prize.

Luke is the only Sanford student to be recognized nationally this year or in the past several years. The last Sanford recipient of national distinction was Sophie Ritter '12, who won in spring 2012 for a dress she designed and constructed out of coffee filters.

All National Medalist works are available to view online at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards website, http://www.artandwriting.org/.

Congratulations to Luke and Ms. Ball on this truly outstanding accomplishment!