EHS artists, skilled but often overlooked, have solidified their place as some of the school’s most talented students, sweeping the regional competition and sending numerous students to the national competition.
After the results of the 2025 Scholastic Art and Writing competition, the answer to “what’s great about EHS” should be the school’s artists. 70 pieces of art won awards in the competition. Of these awards, 17 of the students won Gold Keys and moved onto the National Scholastic competition, placing themselves among the best artists in the country.
This level of expertise comes from years of dedication. Ryan Maxted, a senior who submitted four separate pieces into the competition, won Gold Keys for all four. Maxted said his focus is in art as compared to other subjects in school.
“For art, it’s something that I am able to do that’s more relaxing,” Maxted said. “I feel like I’m able to sit down and work on it with ease. Time flies when I’m working on it.”
Maxted’s illustrations of Victorian architecture landed him the spotlight of the Scholastic Art competition, focusing on black and white graphite drawings of looming buildings which give the viewer a sense of awe and megalophobia.
“I think that is the result that I wanted [the viewer] to feel when looking at this like ‘Wow, this is huge, like it’s towering over me, and I think I showed that well,” Maxted said.
While having four separate pieces winning Gold Keys is exceptional, that doesn’t mean viewers should ignore the skill of the other Gold and Silver Key award winners. The Emmaus students have made incredibly detailed and fascinating pieces, many of which might strive further into nationals.
Senior Anand George commented on Selina Lin’s painting “Different me,” another Gold Key winner.
“This piece looks especially nice. It looks like it took a lot of time to paint this… “They’re all really incredible, and I notice the hard work [that] went into them.”
From the perspective of a student not involved in art, seeing students make such substantial pieces highlights the skill and dedication art students put into their craft. This year’s competition leaves a legacy on the EHS community: Emmaus students make fantastic art.
