High School Student Earns Highest Award at State Art Competition
Ganado Secondary art students have had an incredible V.A.S.E. season. Visual Art Scholastic Event is the state art competition that follows the UIL Side-by-Side. Students spend months researching and planning, developing their theme and composition, and executing with fine technique and creativity. Students also have to write about their inspiration, research, formal elements, process, and theme. Then at the Regional competition, students interview with a juror about their artwork.
In March at the Regional high school event, twenty-seven students earned a medal and advanced to Area. Then at Area, four were selected to advance to State–Wendy Mendoza, Alexis Lugo, Emily Morgan, and Xochitl Robles. Also, this was the first year our junior high students participated in V.A.S.E., and eight students earned medals at their event!
This past weekend at State V.A.S.E., 2,134 pieces from across Texas were judged and exhibited from schools of all sizes. Wendy Mendoza earned a Gold Seal, the highest honor of the state event. Earning a Gold Seal is like winning a state championship! Out of 32,000+ artworks across Texas from schools of all sizes (1A-6A), her piece is in the Top 151, which 0.48% of the State! Her sculpture will now be part of the Gold Seal exhibit that travels the state until the end of November.
Alexis Lugo also did extremely well and medalled with a Score of IV, which means "exemplary." Xochitl and Emily had a great showing and both earned a Score of III, which means “superior.”
The creative process of V.A.S.E. teaches students how to problem solve, think critically, collect and build from feedback, be innovative, and embody determination, all of which are skills needed to be successful in whatever path they choose to take in the future. Congratulations to our art students for being brave to be expressive and putting in the time and works to be successful, against even the largest schools in the area and state. We are so proud of you!
