National Scholastics Award-Winning Work
The following students were recognized through the Scholastics Art and Writing Awards at the national level:
Monique Sheldon: "The Open Door Policy" (drawing) - Silver Medal
Alice Jenkins: Writing Portfolio - Silver Medal
Rachel McNeil: "Home" (short story) - Silver Medal
“The Open Door Policy” by Monique Sheldon
Excerpt from “Tick Tock” by Alice Jenkins
“The chopper zoomed over the Capitol, and Nova gazed from its window. The aircraft wove between looming, white buildings. Their windowless faces washed a sense of dread over Nova. Glancing up, he thought it looked as if the buildings’ spiny towers were curling in on him. But he squeezed his eyes shut; it was only his mind. Peering down, he saw the maze of interwoven tracks; he saw the streetcars flitting around. But from his height, he could not see any people. It seemed as if the Capitol were functioning on its own, and it filled Nova with a sense of utter loneliness.
“To comfort himself, Nova pulled his Watch from his pocket. Centuries ago, it had been new and golden and shiny, but the Years had robbed it of its luster. Now, the dull bronze surface was marred with scratches and stained with dirt. But the Watch was nonetheless Nova’s most prized possession. Tenderly, he flipped the cold metal lid open, revealing the Watch’s face. Beneath the clouded glass, bunches of hands ticked, creating a comforting whirring sound. The largest hand marked the passing Millenniums, moving with booming thuds. Next were the Century hand and the Decade hand, which clicked methodically. He also had Year and Month and Week hands, jumping more briskly. Then came the Hour and Minute and Second hands, skipping in circles around his Watch. He gazed at them, just as he did every morning and every night. He gazed at them, just to be sure that every single hand was still ticking.”
