Newton South Students Win National Photography Awards

Four students recently took home five national awards for their photography work. 

Seniors Olivia Kennis, Nicole Kestenberg, Adam Macalister and junior Jonathan Stricker received two gold medals and three silver medals in the 2012 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, according to a press release issued by Newton South Arts.

While all four students received awards for individual entries, Kestenberg also took home a silver medal for her entire senior photography portfolio. Kestenberg was the only student in Massachusetts to receive an award for her whole portfolio, the press release said. 

"We are proud to have our students represent our school in this year’s National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards," the press release said. 

To view the winning photography, check out the photos to the right.

These Newton South photographers snagged two of the five gold medals awarded to Massachusetts students, and three of the 12 silver medals in the state.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Award winners are chosen by panels of professional artists. According to the press release, 200,000 works of art and writing were submitted to this year's contest and only 1,500 were recognized on a national level. 

In addition to their national recognition, Kennis, Kestenberg, Macalister and Stricker will travel to New York City's Carnegie Hall in June to participate in a showcase event with the Parsons New School for Design. 

The four photographers are students of Newton South teacher Robert Bouchal.