Los Altos High School senior Lemo Sekiguchi was recently recognized as a 2024 YoungArts award winner after placing second last year.
This year, she applied in a different category, placing first in writing. Sekiguchi will be honored at the National YoungArts Week in Miami this week.
“I originally applied under the film category last year and got the second-highest honor,” Sekiguchi said. “I was told then that you’ll receive a phone call if you are a finalist. So, when YoungArts called me for this year, I just couldn’t believe it.”
Following the event, Sekiguchi will also be eligible for the U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts nomination, one of the highest awards for high school students. Up to 160 students can receive the award for their exceptional work.
Before submitting an application to YoungArts, Sekiguchi completed a filmmaking program at USC and wrote screenplays for Emerson College. It wasn’t until one of her friends from Miami told her about the YoungArts program that she was interested in applying.
“I have heard that Young-Arts supports the artists through funds and micro-grants,” Sekiguchi said. “I just think YoungArts can really change your life.”
Established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison, YoungArts is a national competition for visual and literary artists in high school. The organization aims to embrace new young artists, hoping to identify and help them develop their potential.
“Lemo was selected as a winner with distinction, meaning her application met criteria during the adjudication process,” said Dave Adams, senior director of strategic communications at YoungArts. “Each application is evaluated on its own merit in an adjudication process that includes multiple rounds of review. In each round, a national pool of artists review and evaluate materials within their respective specialties.”
This year, Sekiguchi submitted a screenplay about her grandmother growing up in Japan in the early 1900s. She shares her grandmother’s story of fighting traditional Japanese values, such as being a vegan. According to her mother, Rita Sekiguchi, Lemo would often FaceTime her grandmother in Japan, connecting to her own Japanese culture.
“I was so surprised when Lemo chose to write about her grandmother’s childhood because she wasn’t that interested in learning Japanese or the culture when she was younger,” Rita said. “It wasn’t until she realized the importance of her roots that she became interested in Japanese culture. It’s nice to hear she has come to this realization.”
Expect her to unearth more stories that interest her in the future.
“I am passionate about telling stories that are left out in the media,” Lemo said. “I think my favorite thing is telling the stories of characters who challenge normativity. That really keeps me going.”
