For 62 years, secondary school art students from throughout Colorado have entered the National Scholastic Art and Writing competition, with the hope of winning awards and scholarships. In 2010, more than 3,900 entries were submitted, with 450 winning awards.

Winners were exhibited at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and Gold Key winners went on to the Denver Art Museum briefly.

Among those Gold Key winners for 2011, Julia Sanders’ sensitive acrylic painting “Strained” was chosen to go on to Nationals — one of about 12 pieces from Colorado, according to Sanders’ Castle View High School teacher Julie Holladay.

It will be exhibited at Carnegie Hall, where “there will be a reception on May 31 and a series of workshops and tours that introduce winners to New York’s creative industries and an exhibition at the World Financial Center and the National Film Screening at Tribeca Film,” according to Holladay, who said she and Sanders were looking forward to an NYC trip.

The top of the Empire State Building will be lit in gold in honor of the students’ achievements and Mayor Bloomberg has named May 31 the official Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Day.

Julia Sanders, who is a junior at Castle View High School, said she has only been drawing and painting for about two years, including a class with Holladay.

“I don’t really have any hobbies,” she added, so spends a great deal of spare time with her art now.

She isn’t certain about college yet, but will take AP Art next year, which offers college credit.

She draws and paints mostly human figures and says the woman depicted in “Strained” is from her mind and “not very specific,” although she certainly looks to the viewer as though there’s an intense story there. Who is she? Where has she been?

Sanders starts with a concept and “goes with it,” she says.

Her parents are “into math and science,” but very supportive of her art, she says. Her sister is also a math and science person. She has two aunts who are interested in the arts and an influence.

Excited at the prospect of exploring New York, Sanders will go early and stay with a friend.

The Scholastic Award program has been encouraging young artists since 1923. Illustrious previous recipients include Andy Warhol, Richard Avedon, Cy Twombly, Robert Indiana, Truman Capote, John Lithgow, Robert Redford and more.

The competition is open to students in grades 7 to 12 who submit works in visual arts and writing to local professional jurors. Seniors are eligible for college scholarships.