NEHS is proud to showcase the inspiring work created by this year’s winners of the NEHS-Embracing Our Differences Literary Artwork Contest. These talented NEHS student artists from across the globe have beautifully captured the themes of diversity, identity, empathy, and inclusion through their creative interpretations of literature. Their powerful artworks invite us to reflect on our shared humanity and the importance of embracing differences—an urgent message in today’s world. Read on to learn more about the unique artistic visions of Devika, Maya, Sol, and Victoria, whose pieces illuminate the profound connections between literature, culture, and social awareness.
Winners
Devika Krishna, Blue Valley Southwest High School, KS
To See Yourself in Color
This work references Malcolm X’s autobiography. Malcolm X was revolutionary during the American civil rights movement. Many moments of the book stood out in relation to my own experiences as an Indian American, specifically when he attempts to be white among his peers: “I didn’t really have much feeling about being a Negro, because I was trying so hard, in every way I could, to be white.” It is only when he recognizes this behavior and meets his stepsibling, Ella Little-Collins, that he learns to embrace his blackness and become the man history remembers today. He draws a line with his finger, recoloring the narrative. Black panthers cross through, referencing the Black Panther Party. Malcolm’s work, and that of others like him, show what it means to embrace diversity in the face of a society that rejects it, and to provide a more accepting future: we need not only acceptance, but also radical love for our intersectionality.
Devika Krishna is a Junior at Blue Valley Southwest High School, KS. They’ve been interested in art since childhood and have a particular interest in painting and drawing. Much of her work features portraiture and is experimental in medium to show expression. In her free time, she enjoys writing, music, and visiting museums.
Maya Shetty, Kodaikanal International School, India
Words Wield Worlds
My artwork encompasses the synthesis of literature and diversity. In it there are different people, representing differences in race, gender and more. These individuals all hold books: the first pair on the far left are passing two books to each other, while doing so there is an overlap that combines the colors of the books, this shows the mix of culture when reading literature. The next pair is holding the same book, some of their “color” seeps into this book, the scene represents how perspectives of people can be different even when reading the same book and how that’s completely normal. The third pair shows two different individuals who are enjoying the same book. This scene depicts how we can become interconnected with literature regardless of our origin. Finally, the last pair present two girls pointing at each other, noticing the representation of the other in their respective books.
Maya Shetty is a student at KIS, an international school in India. She has a passion for any medium that allows her to think creatively. This includes many forms of art and literature. Maya is a wide reader and truly appreciates the art of writing and its effect on society. She started her journey with pen and paper writing fantasy stories with her grandmother from the age of three. Her hobby has not only grown into dedicating most of her study time to writing and reading but also influenced her to join NEHS and fulfill her urge to create a written masterpiece.
Sol Araya, International Christian School, Costa Rica
This artwork is inspired by The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, where the main character in the novel, Holden Caulfield, is shown rescuing a girl who’s about to fall off the cliff. The girl hanging from Holden’s hand represents the people that fall into depression and are close to death. By Holden grabbing her hand and preventing her from falling, he shows her he has experienced depression too but persevered, symbolizing how emotional struggles connect people in unexpected ways. The girl is wearing a white dress, showing how she is innocent and has fallen into mental illness, just like Holden. The sunset in the background and the peaking sun rays reflect the hope Holden provides for her, showing how our communities should help people struggling with mental disorders and not exclude them from society.
Sol Araya is a 15-year-old writer and artist whose work is inspired by fantasy, myths, and even dreams she’s had. She has successfully participated in slam poetry, winning recognition for her use of language. As she loves storytelling, Sol has started to envision a future career in the film industry, where she hopes to combine her passion for writing with visual media. Sol also enjoys drawing and painting, expressing her creativity in multiple forms. Though naturally introverted and analytical, she enjoys conversations with those she’s close to. Beyond writing and art, Sol finds inspiration in 80s music, particularly from artists like Michael Jackson, whose energy and creativity inspire her. Her love for writing has continued to grow since she joined NEHS and she has started writing her own book.
Victoria Alejandra Castillo Vielma, PrepaTec Eugenio Garza Sada, Mexico
We Can All Enjoy
The purpose of my artwork is to represent the diversity of culture, thought, and preferences in a single scene. Each of the women in the image represents a different culture through her clothing, but each one styles it in her own way and according to their tastes. The same applies to the books they each hold: they represent different genres, that tastes are not limited by gender or background, and that each of them has the freedom to decide what they want to read. The secondary colors within the hair, turban, and hijab are a visual metaphor that highlights the mix of different cultures, identities, and ways of being. I wanted to show that it is not necessary to agree on everything to enjoy a moment together. I wanted to transmit a positive message about inclusion, empathy, and the importance of valuing diversity in all its forms.
Victoria Alejandra Castillo Vielma is a student at PrepaTec Garza Sada in Mexico. She is dedicated, responsible and loves books about dystopias and utopias. Her favorite hobbies are painting marine artwork with watercolors, listening to loud pop music, and dancing salsa (basically, whatever allows her to express herself clearly and in a fun way). She also enjoys hanging out with her friends and family. She currently lives in Nuevo Leon with her family.
National English Honor Society
The National English Honor Society (NEHS), founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, is the only international organization exclusively for secondary students and faculty who, in the field of English, merit special note for past and current accomplishments. Individual secondary schools are invited to petition for a local chapter, through which individuals may be inducted into Society membership. Immediate benefits of affiliation include academic recognition, scholarship and award eligibility, and opportunities for networking with others who share enthusiasm for, and accomplishment in, the language arts.
America’s first honor society was founded in 1776, but high school students didn’t have access to such organizations for another 150 years. Since then, high school honor societies have been developed in leadership, drama, journalism, French, Spanish, mathematics, the sciences, and in various other fields, but not in English. In 2005, National English Honor Society launched and has been growing steadily since, becoming one of the largest academic societies for secondary schools.
As Joyce Carol Oates writes, “This is the time for which we have been waiting.” Or perhaps it was Shakespeare: “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer . . .” we celebrate English studies through NEHS.
National English Honor Society accepts submissions to our blog, NEHS Museletter, from all membership categories (students, Advisors, and alumni). If you are interested in submitting a blog, please read the Suggested Guidelines on our website. Email any questions and all submissions to: submit@nehsmuseletter.us.
