Awards
"You'll Look Prettier If..."
This piece is meant to represent the pressure teenagers face when others criticize them under the disguise of “help,” telling them to change their appearance to suit the viewer. The person’s stare reflects discomfort and a lack of approval toward the unwanted assistance being imposed. The main change is the person’s smile, inspired by how I’m often told my resting face looks unpleasant and that I should smile more. I wanted to reflect this in the work to show how teens, especially young women, are frequently pressured to change their appearance to please others.
Scholastic Gold Medal
(National and Regional)
Red String of Fate
The red thread of fate comes from Chinese mythology and symbolizes relationships meant to last forever. In reality, relationships such as friendships, family, and love are often temporary. This piece explores how these ties can become toxic. One hand pulls the string so tightly that it injures the other person’s pinky, showing how attachment can cause harm. At the same time, the scissors cutting the thread represent the possibility of severing these ties. What we view as forever is not always true, and sometimes the healthiest outcome is letting go, freeing both people.
This was my first time working with acrylic paint and incorporating physical elements like string. Experimenting with traditional materials and angled canvases allowed me to create opposing directions and achieve an effect that digital art cannot replicate.
Scholastic Silver Key
(Regional)
Trapped
I wanted this piece to represent the pressure of schoolwork and the expectation to succeed. The scattered homework and papers on the floor symbolize unfinished work and how academic pressure becomes an unsteady foundation to stand on. The box represents the feeling of being trapped by the need to achieve. I used myself as a reference, posing inside a box, to better convey that sense of confinement. The shadow above suggests how this pressure can make someone feel unseen, while their academics are forced to speak for them and define their worth.
Scholastic Silver Key
(Regional)
Still a Child
Growing up isn’t as fun as people make it out to be. The desire to remain a child is shown through the stuffed animals and the warm, soft light on the bed. No matter how old I get, I don’t think I can give up my stuffed animals because of their importance to my childhood. The darkness of the surrounding room represents the harder parts of growing up, with homework and textbooks scattered across the floor. For someone who is still a kid at heart, sleep becomes a refuge. I created this piece to reflect how difficult it can be to see ourselves as adults when, at our core, we are still children who need comfort. Sleep was my solace, offering a moment to escape responsibility and return to childhood memories.
Scholastic Honorable Mention
(Regional)
Representative of Santa Clara (City Endorsement)
Mayor Lisa Gillmor
"What distinguishes Hope is not only her talent, but her purpose. She believes art should serve people and communities, and she lives out that conviction through both her creative work and her service. She represents Santa Clara as a city of innovation, empathy, and cultural voice. I strongly endorse Hope Chon as a nominee for the U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts and as a representative of the City of Santa Clara. I am confident she will continue to use her creativity to uplift others and bring honor to our city and nation."
*Additional Awards: Young Arts National Competition Winner-Visual Arts (2025), Scholastic Regional Gold Key Portfolio (2026), Scholastic National Art Award-Portfolio (Results Pending 2026), National Youth Art Contest-Two Gold Awards (2024), Dove Art Gallery: 1st Place (2024).