Aldine District-Level Winners of 2019 HLSR School Art Competition Announced

A total of 45 students represented AISD at the NRG; eight will advance to the next level of the contest. 

Artwork by Janeth Santos from Blanson Career and Technical Education High School.

Aldine ISD held the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) School Art Reception on Jan. 17 at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center. After two rounds of judging by the Show’s School Art Committee, Dr. Michaelann Kelley, AISD director of visual arts, announced the winners at the reception.

Schools participating in the HLSR School Art Contest annually host district-level competitions.

REMINDER: Seniors that competed at the district level will receive a letter that they can submit for an $18,000 scholarship through HLSR School Arts Committee. The deadline to submit the letter is February 1, 2019.

Each year, judges select winners in elementary, junior high and high school levels. The entries receive a red, white or blue ribbon. Finalists for the top awards receive a teal ribbon. It is from the teal ribbon group that judges select the Best of Show, Gold Medal, and Special Merit awards. 

In addition to their award, Best of Show and Gold medal winners also received tickets to the rodeo to see their artwork at the Hayloft Gallery. Some students will also receive invitations to the Glassel School of Art and Western Art Academy.

All eligible artwork from school in the Houston area will be auctioned. In 2018, the Grand Champion work of art sold for $225,000, while the Reserve Grand Champion fetched $150,000. Based upon placing, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ establishes a guaranteed minimum payment for each exhibitor who qualifies for the junior auctions. The Rodeo also sets a cap amount above the guaranteed minimum for each auction lot. When bidding exceeds the cap amount, the additional funds go into the Rodeo’s Educational Fund to be used for scholarship and grant recipients. Amounts bid between the guaranteed minimum and the cap are accumulated in the bonus pool and are used to cover any lots that did not bring the guaranteed amount.

The HLSR kicks off Feb. 25 at the NRG and ends Mar. 17. A total of eight AISD winners in the high school, middle school, and elementary school divisions will be displayed in the Hayloft Gallery at the NRG Center during the HLSR.

The selections have already been taken to NRG Arena for the next level of the contest.

More than 500 people attended the AISD Reception, which had more than 600 student artworks on exhibit. The works represented 48 schools across the District.

Before the reception ended, Dr. Michaelann Kelley, director of visual arts, thanked everyone for supporting arts education.

“Arts learning experiences play a vital role in developing students’ capacities for critical thinking, creativity, imagination and innovation. These capacities are recognized as core skills and competencies all students,” said Kelley. “The arts not only encourages personal expression and artistic voice but educational research also shows a correlation between exposure to arts education and scoring higher on standardized tests and college entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT.

“Thank you to the students for gracing us with their talent, and to our supportive parents who come out time and time again to cheer their kids on. Thank you district- and campus-level administrators that help make the visual arts program happen. And last, but not least, my sincerest gratitude to the Aldine visual arts teachers that work tirelessly for our students.

“Every single one of you represents our District motto: All in. All Students. Always!”

Congratulations!

HLSR District Contest Winners

High School Division

Best of Show

“Curious Bell” by Emely Majano, Grade 11
Campus: MacArthur HS
Teacher: Voss

Gold Medals

“A Gentle Kiss” by Paola Gómez, Grade 12
Campus: Nimitz HS
Teacher: Vásquez

“Chick Gaze” by Tram Nguyen, Grade 11
Campus: Eisenhower HS
Teacher: Calderón

Special Merit

“Watching You” by Janeth Santos, Grade 9
Campus: Blanson Career & Technical Education HS
Teacher: Peel

Middle School Division

Best of Show

“Cactus Night” by Joshua Zaragosa, Grade 6
Campus: Houston Academy
Teacher: Cooper

Gold Medal

“Early Learner” by Juniper Boehler, Grade 7
Campus: Jones MS
Teacher: Kersh

Elementary School Division

Best of Show

“Spiky Cactus” by Génesis Ruiz, Grade K
Campus: Kujawa EC/PK/K School
Teacher: Boston

Gold Medal

“The Horse With Shapes” by Emily Velázquez, Grade 3
Campus: Anderson Academy
Teacher: McMillan

Elementary School Finalists

Carter Academy — López, Art Teacher

“La ranchera” by Liliana Benjume, Grade 4

Kujawa ES — Patterson, Art Teacher

“The Midnight Glow” by Ana Garza, Grade 5

“Oops!” by Conrado Guerra, Grade 1

“Ghost Stallion” by Tommy Hernandez, Grade 4

“Moooo Selfie” by Evelin Rodríguez, Grade 5

“El pollo loco” by Valeria Vásquez, Grade 5

“Say, What?” by Nalea Woods, Grade 2

Worsham ES — Cisneros, Art Teacher

“In the Meadow” by Erick Munguía, Grade 5

Middle School Finalists

Drew Academy — Hamacher, Art Teacher

“The Desert” by Lauren Butler, Grade 8

“Texas Cow Skull” by Alessandra García, Grade 8

“Pastel Bones” by Nija Whittington, Grade 7

Grantham Academy — Medina, Art Teacher

“Rooster” by Mariana Vásquez, Grade 8

Hoffman MS — Hanagriff, Art Teacher

“Warrior” by Maximillion Cortés, Grade 8

Plummer MS — Burns, Art Teacher

“Walking Through the Ranch” by Charley Basalto, Grade 8

Shotwell MS — Cullingford, Art Teacher

“Lonely” by John Duong

Stovall MS — Collins, Art Teacher

“Botas” by Damaris García

High School Finalists

Aldine HS — Thayer, Art Teacher

“The Runaway Train” by Isabel Castillo, Grade 11

Blanson CTEHS — Peel, Art Teacher

“The Rose” by Elyan Jacob Arzaga, Grade 9

“Three Wranglers” by Ángel Chávez, Grade 10

Blanson CTEHS — Weeden, Art Teacher

“A Long Way Home” by Abigayl González, Grade 10

Carver HS — Luna, Art Teacher

“El toro” by Vanessa Arias, Grade 11

“Hey! Hey!” by Rosalinda González, Grade 11

“The Golden Goat” by Daphne López, Grade 11

“Prismatic” by Barbara Villarreal, Grade 11

Davis HS — Vera, Art Teacher

“M” by Amy López, Grade 11

Eisenhower HS — Calderón, Art Teacher

“El trabajo del pastor” by Itzel Gómez, Grade 11

MacArthur Ninth Grade School — Watkins, Art Teacher

“Remembering Home” by Shonease Murphy

“The Cow” by Ángel Franco Ramírez

MacArthur HS — Voss, Art Teacher

“Wild Mare in a Vast Desert” by Emily Estrada, Grade 10

“Howdy” by Alexis Martínez, Grade 11

“La vaca” by Dulce Torres, Grade 11

Nimitz Ninth Grade School — Caldwell, Art Teacher

“Wilbur” by Aristi Perea

Nimitz HS — Vásquez, Art Teacher

“Moo Moo & Friends” by Iris Barrera, Grade 11

“Time” by Nicole Jiménez, Grade 12

“Farmyard” by Isabel Rivas, Grade 12

“Free-range Riding” by Giselle Rubio, Grade 11

“Moo” by Jared Solano, Grade 12

See more images from the event.