GASD Students’ Art, Writing Win Gold, Silver Keys and Honorable Mention

Fifteen GASD students earned one Gold Key, 10 Silver Keys, and 11 Honorable Mentions in the 2026 Scholastic Art and Writing Regional Competition.

What some might see as ordinary recyclables became extraordinary works of art in the hands of one Gettysburg Area High School (GAHS) student. Senior Maddison Garcia’s dresses made from soda tabs and recycled materials earned both a Gold Key and Silver Key, and now the Gold Key creative design is in the running for a national award.

“I was honestly pretty stunned,” Garcia said of receiving the recognition for both pieces.  

Both in the fashion category, Garcia earned a Gold Key for “The Knight’s Dress,” which is made of over 1,000 soda tabs and recycled jewelry, and a Silver Key for “Dress of Ages,” which consists of more than 2,000 soda tabs as well as old jewelry and cards.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the “nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens” in grades seven through 12, who can apply in 29 categories of art and writing, according to the organization’s website.

Her first time entering the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition, Garcia was inspired by her mother, who had always wanted to get into chainmail, a mesh-like material created by interlocking thousands of small metal rings and forming a flexible surface that moves like fabric.

“I love to make things out of what they’re not,” Garcia said, adding that she has not used soda tabs before in this way.

At GAHS, her Junior Reserve Training Corps (JROTC) instructors helped grow her confidence, while both art teachers assisted in developing her skills.

“The person who kept me in art was definitely my mom,” Garcia said. “I always looked up to her as a little kid.”

Garcia shared that GAHS has helped her develop a routine and grow as a student.

“I went from being this kid who didn’t want to talk, and now I’m outgoing and leading and doing all these great things,” Garcia said.

In the future, Garcia plans to major in art at Wilson College in Chambersburg and hopes to pursue teaching art.

GAHS art teacher Amy Dreves said GASD has reached double digits with national winners with the hope that Garcia continues the count.

“My fingers are crossed for Maddison Garcia to win a national gold medal,” said GAHS art teacher Amy Dreves. “Chances are typically around 1:125 amongst all the regional gold key winners that move on to national judging. It is a snowball's chance of winning, but somebody's got to do it!”

Garcia will learn if she earned a national award in mid-March, which could include the opportunity to attend an in-person ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 10.

Silver Key winners in art included: Leila Benner for “Children of the Night Sky” in illustration; Eliza Dreves for “What Winderbourne Once Was” in experimental photography; Bryce Epperson for “Weathered Emblem” and “Encaged in Walls of Regret” both in photography; Sophia Gillmore for “Hall” and “Rusty Cell” both in photography; and Riley Harris for “Abandoned Light” in senior portfolio featuring photography.

GAHS senior Christian DiCampli earned a Silver Key in writing for a short story entitled, “What if I’m a Monster,” and Gettysburg Area Middle School eighth grader AJ Reinhart Mitchell won a Silver Key in writing for a short story called “Cinder.”

Honorable Mentions included: Eliza Dreves for “Whispers of the Past: Historic Narrative Through Lens & Artifacts” in senior portfolio featuring photography and experimental photography; Epperson for “Locked Away” in senior portfolio featuring photography; Dali Alvarez for “Mexican Dolls” in painting; Eliana Bonner for “Tart” in painting; Alyssa Cool for “Spatial Separation” in digital painting, drawing, and collage; Yoselin Martinez-Reyes for “The Dream of a Child” in sculpture; Emma Nichols for “Struggles of the Monarch” in sculpture; Keira Popovice for “The Hungry Bandit” in photography and “Liquid Stride” in drawing; and Cheyenne Wenger for “Emerald Gaze” and “Golden Graze” both in photography.