2025-2026 Long Island Scholar Artists

The goal of the Scholar-Artist program is to honor exceptionally accomplished high school seniors September to June. Selections are made, each spring, from a pool of Long Island students. From these nominees, one monthly award winner from Nassau and one from Suffolk is chosen.

To learn more visit: http://longislandartsalliance.org/

Edwin Ko

For Edwin Ko of New Hyde Park, music is a living expression of his life experiences.
A senior at Herricks High School, he has twice earned perfect scores on both the
NYSSMA Classical and Jazz Alto Saxophone Level 6 evaluations (2023, 2024). His
honors include Music Student of the Month (2024), the Outstanding Band Junior Award
(2025), and selection to the All-State Instrumental Jazz Band in 2024 and 2025, the
All-State Symphonic Band in 2025, and as an alternate for All-State Orchestra in 2024.

Edwin’s performances range from the Lincoln Center High School Jazz Program to the
Nassau-Suffolk Jazz Band, and from All-State concerts to a 2025 appearance at the John Coltrane Home for
Force for Good Day. At Herricks, he leads as president of both the Blue Jazz Band and the Environmental Club,
while also contributing to Tri-M, the Asian American Culture Club, Christian Club, and student government.

He draws inspiration from personal challenges, such as switching schools in childhood and supporting
grandparents through illness, as well as from his teachers and peers. “Whenever I am playing my saxophone,
taking photos, or participating in any creative activity, the story of my life is an important factor in all of my
creative decisions,” Edwin says.

Edwin plans to pursue engineering, possibly biomedical or environmental, while continuing to perform in
local jazz ensembles, pursue photography, and give back to the community through art and service.

Ethen Hong

For Ethen Hong of Syosset High School, art and film are inseparable parts of how he sees
the world. Recognized with an Honorary Award in the Nassau County Juried Art Competition
(2023), a RISD Certificate of Excellence (2025), and selection to the NYSSMA All-State
program (2025), he has built a diverse creative portfolio across multiple disciplines.

Ethen’s talents have seen him as a member of the National Art Honor Society,
International Thespian Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society — a combination that
reflects his interest in the intersection of visual art, music, and performance. Looking to the
“public eye”, his artwork has appeared in the All-County Art Exhibit, and his films have been
featured in both city and local showcases.

He finds creative inspiration everywhere. “Whether it’s an amazing story, an encapsulating movie, or my
friends, I love writing down any and all ideas in my sketchbook,” he says. “I’ll draw up sketches and
storyboards, sleep on it, and then work on the technicals.”

To Ethen, art and especially film is the most powerful way to connect with people. “Art is making ideas
move. It’s seeing the worlds we all imagine in our heads. It’s loving and alive.”

Ethen plans to study film and television production with acting and directing coursework, and later hopes to
create and produce his own independent films while exploring business and theater.

Yeewan Melody Chen

At Syosset High School, Yeewan Melody Chen has distinguished herself as both an artist and a leader. Named "Artist of the Month" in 2025, she earned first place in the Commercial category of the school’s annual Architecture Showcase (2024) and second place in the Residential category (2023). She also received a Scholastic Art and Writing Silver Key in 2024.

Her work has been exhibited at the Nassau All-County Exhibition (2025) and the Nassau County High School Juried Competition hosted by the Huntington Art Guild (2024). At school, she created a large hallway mural and designed merchandise for the Astronomy Club. She serves as president of the National Art Honor Society, captain of the Science Olympiad team, and is a member of Women in STEM.

Melody’s creative process stems from picking up on and creating patterns out of the ordinary. “My inspiration tends to come to me when I least expect it,” she says, noting how interactions spark her best ideas. Monet’s work remains a lasting influence.

Her art often explores change and permanence — how time alters materials while certain truths endure. “In my pieces, those two forces dance in tandem: the fleeting and the grounded.”
Melody plans to study architecture, blending STEM research with artistic exploration to design human-centered spaces that connect sensory experience with science.

Ava Maia

An inventive digital artist whose work challenges perceptions of technology and identity, Ava Maia of Franklin Square attends school at H.Frank Carey High School. Ava’s art has appeared at Gallery@77 at Sewanhaka High School, Go APE at the Art League of Long Island, the Five Towns Juried Exhibition, and Ava has received National Silver Medal and Gold Key awards at the Five Towns Juried Exhibition in 2024.

Her artistic “voice” extends well beyond the classroom. Ava has painted school murals, created caricatures for community block parties, and is a member of the National Art Honor Society and Art Palettes. She is also part of the Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Association (SAGAA), reflecting her belief in art as a force for inclusion and social commentary.

Ava draws inspiration from digital pioneers, often studying the work of movie animators like Chris Sanders, best known for Lilo & Stitch. “My art is usually a social commentary about many issues that impacted me and a lot of people who I’m close with” Ava tells us. Her own portfolio last year focused on the impact of social media,exploring the ways constant exposure to technology has shaped her and her peers. “My art is a representation of the mind of a computer-bound teen, with my digital and not necessarily ‘realistic’ style,” she explains. “It was an extremely refreshing moment in my life completing this portfolio.”

Ava’s college plans will see her aim for PRATT Institute or Fashion Institute of Technology to continue her studies.

Lina Murale

For Lina Murale of Bellmore, dance is not just a passion — it is her identity. A senior at Long Island High School for the Arts, she has earned recognition on competitive stages, including the Senior Majesty title at the 2025 Royal Dance Competition, along with the Unleashed Passion, Ambition Apprentice, and Ultimate Class Assistant awards.

Her performances have spanned both school and public stages, from LIHSA’s Winter and Spring Fests to the KTU Beatstock Concert, where she appeared as a backup dancer. She also performed in Broadway Supports LIHSA, showcasing her versatility in commercial and theatrical dance. At school, Lina is president of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts and a member of the National Honor Society and English Honor Society.

Inspiration, she says, comes from people around her. “I am constantly inspired by my peers and mentors. The resident artists and master class teachers at LIHSA remind me why I love to dance. Seeing others so passionate inspires me to continue my own passion.”

For Lina, dance is inseparable from who she is. “There is no me without dance. It’s a place where I can escape worries and focus on the thing I love most.” She plans to pursue dance in college and dreams of a professional career in commercial dance, on Broadway, touring with an artist, or performing on cruise ships.

Stephen Ye

A gifted violinist whose performances have taken him from Carnegie Hall to Salzburg, Austria, Stephen Ye of Miller Place High School has quickly become one of Long Island’s most accomplished young musicians. In 2025 alone, he won first place in the American Protégé International Concerto Competition, the International Music Competition Salzburg Grand Prize Virtuoso, and the American International Music Competition. He was also selected to the NYSSMA All-State Symphony Orchestra and previously won the Manhattan School of Music Chamber Music Competition.

Stephen’s artistry has been showcased on world stages, including two solo performances at Carnegie Hall and an invitation to debut at the Solitär Mozarteum in Salzburg. As concertmaster of the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Symphony Orchestra, he led his peers with technical mastery and interpretive depth. He also serves as a youth radio host and editor for WUSB 90.1 FM’s China Blue Summer Program, promoting music as a bridge between cultures.

At Miller Place, Stephen leads as president of the Tri-M Honor Society, Executive Student Council, Math Olympiad Club, and co-president of Science Olympiad. He co-founded Green String Inc., a nonprofit bringing chamber music to senior homes and civic centers, as well as performing with the Sound Symphony Orchestra.

“To me, music represents a form of expression in its purest form,” he says. While planning to study economics or applied mathematics in college, Stephen also thrives as a competitive chess player, tennis athlete, and PC builder — pursuits that showcase his creativity, precision, and drive.