SAN MARCOS – Abilene ISD high school art students recently competed in the Texas Art Education Association’s Visual Art Scholastic Event at San Marcos High School, with one coming away with the competition’s highest honor.
Eight AISD students qualified for the state competition held April 28-29 with four earning Rating IV-Exemplary and medals: Cooper’s Maleah Hudson, Cooper’s Jenna Herrera, Cooper’s Allison Showalter, and Abilene High’s Glorianna Nichols.
Cooper sophomore Allison Showalter’s piece of art titled “The Secret of the Sea” took home the Gold Seal, the highest honor given out at the VASE state competition.
From Abilene High School, state competitors were Glorianna Nichols, with two works of art, taught by Jason Clements; Lily Alexander, with two works of art, taught by April Rifenburgh; and Brieyonna Reed, taught by Tommy Evans.
From ATEMS, the state competitor was Joshua Thompson, taught by Riley Scroggins.
From Cooper High School, state competitors were Jenna Herrera, Abigail Nichols, and Allison Showalter, taught by Melody Kennedy; and Maleah Hudson, taught by Amanda Baldwin.
The mission of the TAEA Visual Arts Scholastic Event is to “recognize exemplary student achievement in the Visual Arts by providing art students a program with a standard of excellence in which to achieve.” Not only do students create original artworks, they also speak with a juror about their work and creation process. Students are entered according to their Division, which refers to the art course in which they are currently enrolled. According to TAEA, jurors look for originality of concept, technical expertise, understanding of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), and the interpretation of the student’s stated intent.
