Awards Presentations!

SCBWI's Sarah Diamond started the awards ceremony with acknowledging the conference scholarship winners:

The BIPOC Scholarship for Black, Indigenous and People of Color:
Nadine Pinede
Dorinda Nicholson

The Student Illustrator Scholarship for full-time university students studying illustration:
Bonnie Wong
Lingyan Gu

The Author/Illustrator Scholarship sponsored by Emma Dryden and drydenbks:
Lexi K. Nilson

The Author/Illustrator Scholarship sponsored by Little, Brown and Company:
Sara Aziz

The Translation Scholarship sponsored by Ruta Sepetys:
Hongyu Jasmine Zhu

The Disability Scholarship:
Leslie Nightingale

The 2024 Works of Outstanding Promise (WOOP) Grand:
Honor: Alicia J. Novo (SCBWI: Indiana)
Winner: Kelly Zhang (SCBWI: Canada East)

The 2024 Regional Advisor Marketing Grants:
Honor:
Rebecca Langston-George (SCBWI: Central-Coastal California)
Nadia Salomon (SCBWI: San Francisco North and East Bay)

Paul O. Zelinsky presented the 2023 Narrative Art Award Winner:
Jerry Bennett

The Spark Award for best independently published books,
Picture Book Winner: Pebbles and the Biggest Number by Joey Benun, illustrated by Laura Watson
Older Readers: At the Edge of the Ice by Carolyn Armstrong

SCBWI's TeMika Grooms presents the much-anticipated Portfolio Showcase Awards:

Bronze Winner: Amanda G. Crabtree

Bronze Winner: Anca Sandu Budisan

Silver Winner: Steve Teare

Gold Winner: Maya Shleifer

Cheers for all!

Portfolio Showcase Winners on the big stage
receiving their award certificates and well-deserved applause

Congratulations to all the winners... and cheers to everyone who entered and put their work out there!

Welcome with Sarah Baker, SCBWI Executive Director

 Welcome and welcome back! 

Sarah Baker, SCBWI Executive Director kicks off the conference with a WONDERFUL welcome!

There were hundreds of members smiling back at her as we all came together once again for the SCBWI In-Person Winter Conference.

The Industry party was back and in full effect. The ballroom was packed with so many industry professionals. They were thrilled to be there and were impressed by the portfolios they saw. 

Congratulations to all the illustrators who participated. It takes hard-work and courage to put your work in the showcase and it was the highlight of the Industry party.

Introduce yourself!

People from all over the world are in attendance! We have Council Members from Australia, Taiwan, the UK and Nigeria. SCBWI is an abundant community and there’s a lot of people to meet and a lot of great opportunities to connect with leadership, and staff members at SCBWI.

Don’t forget to introduce yourself to your RT (Regional Team leader). SCBWI has chapters all over the world with a vibrant community near you! They are ROCKSTARS, and are really important people to know in this organization.

There are so many great sessions and opportunities to learn, grow and meet new members this year!

Here is the LINK to the SCHEDULE! Join the socials, come to the Networking party and take LOTS OF NOTES during your Creative Labs!

REMEMBER, you’re in a very supportive and welcoming group. There is no competition here. You are surrounded by people who are rooting for you!

“Take advantage while we are in person. Look to your right, look to left, you might meet your critique partner!” 

Leave everything at the door.

Get completely immerse. 

Turn off and tune in. 

DRINK water and take a stroll when you need a moment to breathe.

And remember, you took a step toward your goals and that is such an amazing accomplishment.

There can NEVER be enough children’s books in the world!

If you post anything during the conference, don’t forget to use the social media hashtag: #scbwiNY24 so we can connect with you!

HAPPY CONFERENCING!