Northgate High School sophomore Yuna Ko has earned national recognition at the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, receiving both a National Gold Medal and the prestigious Best-in-Grade Award/Scholarship for her comic book, Daltokki ex Machina. The Best-in-Grade distinction is especially notable, awarded to only two students per grade from among all Gold Medal recipients nationwide.
All entries to the Scholastic Awards are judged through a fully anonymous process, ensuring that selections are made without consideration of a participant’s gender, age, ethnicity, or hometown. Works are evaluated by leading figures in the visual and literary arts, including past jurors such as Marc Brown, Kay WalkingStick, Michael Bierut, Philip Pearlstein, and Edward Sorel. Jurors look for works that demonstrate the Awards’ core values: originality, technical skill, and a strong personal voice or vision.
In addition to these honors, Yuna has been invited to the national ceremony at Carnegie Hall this June to celebrate her achievement. We proudly congratulate Yuna on this outstanding accomplishment.
Article and photo submitted by Michelle Carmon,
Animation & Art Design Teacher