The 2026 Weston Collective Scholarship Exhibition
and Award Ceremony
Thirty students, ranging from elementary school to college, were recognized at the 2026 Weston Collective Scholarship Competition and Awards Ceremony. Held at the National Steinbeck Center, the students’ work was on display for everyone to witness. From cityscapes to environmental portraiture, a wide variety of styles filled the walls. Students' photographs were anonymously judged by a panel of three judges to narrow the selection for the exhibition. There were 69 portfolios and 20 individual elementary and middle school photographs entered this year.
The awards were presented in the Salinas Room in the National Steinbeck Center, with standing room only. Friends, family, and community members came out to celebrate the students’ talent and hard work. Students across Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties prepare all year to enter their finished collections of photographs into the competition, hoping to be selected. They not only win a cash prize, but also have the opportunity to have one of their pieces hung in an exhibition with their peers. We are so proud of the creativity and dedication to photography evident in the work presented. We look forward to seeing what students create over the course of next year!
The National Steinbeck Center
Be sure to check out the exhibition at the National Steinbeck Center before the show closes on August 9th. Students involved in the exhibition can bring family and friends into the center for FREE while the show is up. Don’t miss out on this opportunity! We are honored to partner with the National Steinbeck Center for the second year.
Thank you to Michelle Magdalena for capturing the event with her camera!