Walgreens announces winners for the 2023 Expressions by Walgreens Art Challenge

The submissions center on self-expression and reveal various topics, from mental health and gun safety to the impact of social media and more.

Sandra Levy

5/30/2023

Walgreens announced the winners and finalists for its 13th annual Expressions by Walgreens art challenge. The national contest provides monetary awards to winning high school student submissions nationwide.

Eligible entries are judged in four categories, including visual arts, media arts, spoken word and creative writing. Additionally, prizes are presented to student submissions earning the most online votes in each category and to Teacher Champions from represented high schools.

Walgreens established Expressions to educate, empower and equip young people and their communities with insights and resources on issues impacting teens. Since 2009, Expressions by Walgreens has reached approximately one million high school students and awarded more than $375,000 in monetary prizes. In addition, more than 500 organizations, high schools, teachers and parents have participated in the program since its inception.

“It gives us great joy to offer this program every year. Expressions by Walgreens is designed to encourage youth to find their voice and express themselves through art,” said Alethia Jackson, senior vice president of ESG and chief DEI officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance. “Expressions is a platform for teens to release what’s on their minds and in their hearts, recognizing that the high school years can often be filled with many pressures and distractions. With that in mind, we want to help participating teens harness the therapeutic benefits of self-expression through art by giving them a platform to do so. We thank this year’s participants and congratulate all winners and finalists.”

This year’s contest brought in more than 4,500 student art submissions from teens living in various communities across the United States. More than 25% of entries addressed the topic of school shootings, while another 30% of entries tackled an issue related to mental health. This year also saw another record with more than 46,000 votes received for People’s Champ winners.

Following is the complete list of this year’s winners and finalists:

Visual Arts

First Place: (How Many More) Lisa L., Icon Art Academy Irvine, Irvine, Calif.
Second Place: (Manipulation) Samantha C., Libertyville High School, Libertyville, Ill.
Third Place: (Addiction) Grace K., Valencia High School, Placentia, Calif.
People’s Champ: (Misfit) Sabrina C., Council Rock High School, South Holland, Pa.

Media Arts

First Place: (My Sister) Sofia P., De La Salle Institute, Chicago, Ill.
Second Place: (Don’t Go) Gina. P., McMillen High School, Murphy, Texas
Third Place: (Reality Becomes a Nightmare) Danalyn R., Jonathan C., Emily G., Gabriela C., Jerson M., University Prep Value High School, Los Angeles, Calif.
People’s Champ: (Corrupted World) Azariah M., Powell High School, Powell, Tenn.

Spoken Word

First Place: (Two Worlds) Teonna R., Jefferson High School, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Second Place: (My Thoughts and Prayers) Siena D., Canyon High School, Anaheim, Calif.
Third Place: (Snowflakes) Sonii G., JP McCaskey High School, Lancaster, Pa.
People’s Champ: (Crown of Liberty) Huma K., Blue Valley West High School, Overland Park, Kan.

Creative Writing:

First Place: (I Want to Live) Fiona D., The Dalles High School, The Dalles, Oreg.
Second Place: (3 Months) Reese B., Katy Jordan High School, Fulshear, Texas
Third Place: (This Skin) Seryia H., South Elgin High School, South Elgin, Ill.
People’s Champ: (Frost in April) Chloe A., The Tatnall School, Wilmington, Del.

Teacher Champions

East/Northeast: Lucinda Stein, Gorham High School, Gorham, Maine
South: Whitney Davis, CE King High School, Houston, Texas
Midwest: Michael Cullinane, Nicholas Senn High School, Chicago, Ill.
West: Genevieve Anderson, Capital High School, Helena, Mont.

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