Abby Falkingham `25 Receives Top National Honor for Art

Senior Abby Falkingham (Indian Hill) has been awarded a National Gold Medal, the top national honor given for a single image, in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. This competition, dating back to 1923, is one of the most prestigious student art contests in the country and has recognized notable artists and writers such as Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, and Stephen King.

This year, more than 110,000 students submitted over 310,000 works of art and writing; Abby’s piece, "Back-to-Back", was selected for its originality, technical skill, and emergence of a personal voice.

“I am extremely surprised and excited about receiving this award!” says Abby. “Art has never been one of my strongest subjects, but photography has allowed me to explore something new and find passion in an unfamiliar side of academics at Country Day.”

Abby will be recognized at the national awards ceremony in June at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In celebration of the winners, the Empire State Building will be illuminated in gold, marking a momentous achievement for young artists nationwide. Abby’s gold medal is part of a strong tradition of excellence in the school’s arts program, with Country Day students earning eight National Gold Medals and two National Silver Medals in past years; prior to this year, the most recent was in 2021.

“Building the framework to effectively nurture original, emerging visual voices is a vital aspect of teaching for excellence,” says Carole Lichty-Smith, photography teacher. “Abby’s achievement is a testament to her creativity and dedication, as well as the strength of our arts program.”