Laurel Aronian | Writing Recognition & Publishing
AWARDS:
YoungArts Voice/Singer-Songwriting, Award, '23
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards:
National Silver Medal, Critical Essay ’23;
(7) Regional Gold (Critical Essay, Poetry, Journalism), ‘24,’23,‘22,‘21
(27) Awards Overall ‘24,’23,‘22,‘21
Critical Essay
National Silver Medal
-“Medicine and Music: The Remedies of the Ancient Chinese Government”, ‘23
Regional Gold
-Public Perception and Power”, ‘24
-“Medicine and Music: The Remedies of the Ancient Chinese Government”,’23
-“Outcomes Out of Explorer's Hands”,’23
-“Vaxed In Or Out”,’22
Regional Silver
-“Crafting Control”,’24
-“Name The Past For The Future”, ‘24
-“Romantic Ambiguity Brings Beauty”, ‘24
-“E[spouse]ing Views on Marriage”,’24
-”Alexander the Great Pioneer”,'23
Regional Honorable Mention
-“Individuality; Modesty; and Ecstasy in Atonement,’24
-“Minds in Nature”,’24
-“Ethnic Inequality in the Empire: How Did Nationalism Play a Role in the Development of The Austro-Hungarian Empire?”, ’24
-“Understanding Despite the Night”,’23
Journalism
Regional Gold
-“I Love NY: A Personal Insight at the 145th New York State Chess Championship”,‘24
Regional Honorable Mention
-“My Star-Spangled Haring”, ‘23
Poetry
Regional Gold
-“The 29th Shack”, ‘22
-“The Land Ahead”, ‘21
Regional Silver
-“Finding North”, ‘23
-“Glass Animals”, ‘21
Regional Honorable Mention
-“Found Poem: Lost”,‘24
-“May”, ‘24
-“Carlos's House”, ‘22
-“Max's Tax”, ‘22
-“Monopoly”, ‘22
-“Stone Soup”, ‘22
-“Hotels”, ‘21
Runner-Up, The Fluctuations of Modernity and Antiquity", Int. High School Poetry Comp., Society of Classical Poets,‘23
Runner-up,"The 29th Shack /So Long Schoolhouse", Poetry, Literacy In Place Rural Teen Writing Contest, ‘24
Winner, Youth Honor Awards Program, Skipping Stones Magazine, ‘24
Winning Entry & Special Recognition, “Our Not So Silent Springs”, Poetry/Prose, Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/ Sense of the Wild Contest, Rachel Carlson Alliance, ’20
Virgil-in Residence, Poetry Out Loud Award, St. Luke's School,'23
Finalist, “Max’s Tax”, Poetry, St. Mary's River Of Words, '21
Winner, “The Woods”, Short Story, A Wish Upon a Snowflake, Winter Story Contest,Writopia Lab, ‘23
2nd Place, “Albany”, Poetry, New York State Fair Poetry Contest, ‘23
Special Achievement Award: Chess Themes in Music, Chess Journalists of America,’23
Best Single Podcast Episode, US Chess in Education Webinar– “Chess During the School Day – Part 1: feat. Laurel Aronian”, Chess Journalists of America Awards,’24
Best Entry by Mainstream.Media, “Chess Kids Huddle”, ft. Chessin1day, New Canaan Advertiser, Chess Journalists Awards, ‘24
Best Single Podcast Episode Jennifer Shahade – “Ladies Knight with Jen Shahade feat. Laurel Aronian”, Chess Journalists of America Awards,’23
Honorable Mention, “Best Personal Narrative by a Junior, Chess Journalists of America Awards, ‘23
Finalist, “Covid Garden”, Multimedia, NY Times Coming of Age in 2020
READINGS, SPOKEN WORD, PODCASTS
Author Talk, Reading Rural YAL, Podcast: Laurel Aronian Feat. Poet on the Reading Rural YAL, 2/24
Presenter, Writopia Lab’s 7th Annual Youth Essay Writing Conference: A Celebration of Critical Thinking Across Disciplines, “Minds in Nature”, Critical Essay, 3/24
1st Place, Poetry Recitation, “Está Tarde”, by Alfonsina Storni, Honors Spanish IV, CT Council of Language Teachers,‘24
Virgil-in-Residence/ Poetry Out Loud Winner, “Un Tintero,” Inkwell by Desirée Alvarez, St. Luke’s School,’23
Selected Presenter, “Ode To Assertiveness”, Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute, Original Poetry, 11/22
“Ode To Assertiveness”, 2022 Speech & Debate Nationals, Original Spoken Word, Louisville, KY;
St. Luke’s School (Qualifying CT State Rep)
“Chess During The School Day ft. Laurel Aronian, US Chess.org, 2/24
Ladies Knight with Jen Shahade ft. Laurel Aronian, US Chess.org, 10/22
Declamation, “Just Being Nice”, St. Luke’s School ,‘21
PUBLICATIONS:
Poetry:
“So Long, Schoolhouse”, Literacy In Place Rural Teen Writing Contest, Purdue University, 3/24
"The Fluctuations of Modernity and Antiquity", Society of Classical Poets, ‘23
“The Land Ahead”, Skipping Stones, 4/24
“Is Our Language The Language”, Skipping Stones, pg.18, Mar-Aug ‘24
“From Lines Composed on a Dirt Road Beside a Hill, On Taking a Walk One Morning in Westchester NY, Autumn of 2021, The Pendulum, pg. 19, St. Luke’s School Literary Journal, '23
“Stone Soup”, Skipping Stones, 9/23
“Alone Together”, Young Mensan Magazine, pg. 25, Summer, ‘22
“Something Is Ahead", Young Mensan Magazine, pg. 27, Summer, '22
“Lost”, The Pendulum, pg. 23, St. Luke’s School, '23
“Alone Together”, Young Mensan Magazine, pg. 25, Summer, ‘22
“Max's Tax", The Pendulum, pg. 48-49, St. Luke’s School, '22
“Monopoly", The Pendulum, pg. 43, St. Luke’s School, '22
“Is Our Language The Language", Lexophilia, pg. 48; Johns Hopkins Univ. CTY, Spring, '20
Short Story:
“The Woods”, A Wish Upon a Snowflake, Memoir, Writopia Lab’s 2023 Published Anthology, ‘23
“Dead Racer’s Gully”, Short Story, All Hallow’s EVE Anthology,Wingless Dreamer Publisher, 11/23
“E-Positron”, Flash Fiction, Young Mensan Magazine, Spring, '23, pg. 10
“E-Positron”, Flash Fiction, The Pendulum, St. Luke’s School Literary Journal, ‘23, pg. 48-49
"It's Not Over", Non-Fiction, Johns Hopkins Univ. CTY, Lexophilia, Spring, '22, pg. 52-53
Journalism:
In Process: The 2024 Us Chess Board of Delegates Conference, Chess Life, ‘24
“Lorenzo John Jr., Faces of US Chess”, USChess.org, 4/24
“Lennart Ootes, Faces of US Chess”, USChess.org, 12/23
“Teachers Teach Chess”, First Moves: Nationals Chess Day: A 2023 Review”, Chess Life, 2/24
“I Love NY”, American Chess Magazine, Issue 35, pgs. 77-83, ‘23
“No Rookie Mistakes: How Two YM's Are Spreading Their Love of Chess”, Young Mensan Magazine, Summer, ’23
“Big Fun at the K-12 Grade Championships", Cover Story, Chess Life Kids, US Chess.org, 4/23
“Fabi’s First Nationals Chess Life”, Chess Life, USchess.org, 3/2/23
“My Star-Spangled Haring”, Chess Life for Kids, USchess.org, 12/22
“Judit Polgar vs. The World”, Aug. 2022 Issue, Chess Life Kids, USChess.org, 8/22/22, pgs.8-11
“Girls Club on ZOOM: A Student's Perspective”, USChess.org, 12/21
“My Haring Experience”, Chess Connections Magazine, pgs.35-50, Fall, ’22
Chess.com Blog ~Profile MountainLaurelA (Select Pieces):
“The Sinquefield Sacrifice” The World Grand Chess Tour, St. Louis Rapid & Blitz 2022, Chess.com Blog, 8/22/22
“Autograph Signing-2019 St. Louis Rapid & Blitz Sinquefield Cup Ceremonies”, Chess.com Blog, 8/19/19
Book Review:
“More Than Just a Pretty Face”, Syed M. Masood, Book Review, “Somer’s Library Blog”, 2/2/23
“Ava and Taco Cat”, Carol Weston, Book Review, “Somer’s Library Blog”, 2/10//23
“Purple Hibiscus”, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Book Review, “Somer’s Library Blog”, 2/10//23
PRESS (Interviews, Contributions, Mentions)
CHESS/SERVICE:
Interviews
Chess Kids Huddle at New Canaan Library for Day of Games Under Eye of Award-Winning St. Luke's Player”,
New Canaan Advertiser, New Haven Register, CT Insider, 4/24
“Chess During The School Day feat. Laurel Aronian, Podcast, US Chess.org, 2/24
“Ladies Knight with Jen Shahade feat. Laurel Aronian”, Podcast & Print, USChess.org., 10/22
“Laurel Aronian: The Queen’s Corner” Interview by Rachel Schechter, The Chess Journalist, p. 50-56, 10/23
“Laurel Aronian: Faces Of US Chess”, USChess.org
"18 Under 18", New Canaan Bedford Magazine, Fall, 2022
“Cookies and Covid: Decisions That Have Lead The SLS Chess Club Forward”, The Sentinel, 4/19/23
"How You Made It Through The Pandemic Year", Scholastic SCOPE Magazine", 5/21
Contributions
“Play Like A Champion”, by WGM Jennifer Shahade, (Laurel Aronian, pgs. 160, 343), 12/’23
“TC (Re)Unites:“Chess For All”, Teachers College, Columbia University, TC.Columbia.edu, 10/’23
“Chess and Teens”, Comment, The Learning Network, The New York Times, 4/25/23
“Which One Is Right For You?” 2022 Teen Life Guide To Summer Programs, p.13, ‘22
Mentions
“The Queens’ Corner—Rachel Schechter with Jennifer Shahade and Kimberly Doo McVay”
“Which One Is Right For You?” 2022 Teen Life Guide To Summer Programs, p.13, ‘22
“TCCS Parents and Students Want To Learn More About Chess?”, Teachers College Community School, 10/23
“Last weekend, Laurel Aronian '25 was part of an online US Chess webinar”, St. Luke’s School Instagram, 3/1/24
“Blitz, Bug, Two Rounds, and Much More on First Days of K-12 Nationals, Chess Life Online, 12/23
“2023 Women's Committee Report”: USChess.org, 12/23
“The Advent and History of the Fairfield Interscholastic League”, CT Chess Journal, 1/23
"Haring & Invitational Summary”, CT State Chess Association", 2022
MUSIC:
"North Salem’s Laurel Aronian"Wins 2023 YoungArts Award For Songwriting, Patch.com, 1/23
"Interlochen Students and Alumni Shine in 2023 YoungArts Competition”, Interlochen.org, 12/7/22
Laurel Aronian at Bedford Playhouse Café, Bedford & New Canaan Magazine, 7/'24
YoungArts "In The News", 7/'24
Laurel Aronian at Bedford Playhouse, News 12 CT, 7/24
Live Music at Bedford Playhouse, Laurel Aronian, Hear It There ,7/24
Rising Star Singer-Songwriter Laurel Aronian, PATCH, 7/24
Congratulations to Laurel Aronian '25, SLS Sentinel, 2/24
SLS Student Musicians Explore Their Talents Worldwide, 1/24
Sunday Brunch Featuring Laurel Aronian, Hear It There, 11/23
Jazz On Main Sunday Brunch Feat. Laurel Aronian, Bedford New Canaan Magazine, 11/23
2023 Fair Thanks, Lewisboro, NY, 9/23
Make Music Day Boston Harbor Visitor Center: Feat. Singer-Songwriter~Laurel Aronian, 7/23
The American Protégé International Vocal Competition, Folk/Traditional Winner, 6/23
Music International Grand Prix Winner, 3/23
Winter Sing-A-Long with Laurel Aronian Mommy Poppins, 1/23
Interlochen Students and Alumni Shine in 2023 YoungArts Competition, 12/22
Sing-Along with Laurel, Katonah-Lewisboro Times 6/23
Fall Sing-A-Long with Laurel Aronian, Lewisboro Library Instagram, 11/22
Sing-A-Long with Laurel Aronian, Talk of The Town, Record-Review, 12//22
WRITING:
“Rural Teen Writing Contest 2024: Representing diverse genres, identities thru rural stories” 3/11/24
“When Kids Exclude Peers”, The Wall Street Journal, 11/19/22