Two students at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School won national gold medals at the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.  

Senior Caiden Gardner and sophomore Tessa Schulz each won gold medals for photography.

Tessa Shulz won a gold medal for her photo, Vacation Over. — Tessa Schulz

“This is the first time since Davin Tackabury’s win in 2018 that any MVRHS student has won a Gold Medal — or any recognition — at the national level of this long-running, prestigious competition,” wrote Chris Baer, department chair of art, design and technology at the regional high school, in an announcement of the awards.

Mr. Gardner’s black-and-white photo, titled Final Dance, shows a man dressed in a trench coat teetering by the water while holding a briefcase in one hand. According to Mr. Gardner, it represents “someone who is fed up with corporate life. He runs off to nature and dances one final time.”

Ms. Schulz’s photo also is depicted by the water. Titled Vacation Over, an single arm rises out of the sand, lifting toward the sky. According the Ms. Schulz, this is supposed to be a contrast to the perfect Vineyard beach pictures often depicted, according to Ms. Schulz: “The hand buried under the sand is reaching up like their life depends on it, because, well, it does.”

Both students will be honored in June at Carnegie Hall in New York City, where they will be invited on stage to take a bow.

“Most years, the Empire State Building is lit up in gold light for the occasion,” Mr. Baer said.