Aldine ISD Students Recognized at 2014 Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Aldine ISD students earned 50 regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards provided by The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and sponsored by the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE). Teens in Harris County took home a total of 1,587 regional awards. Winners hail 17 school districts as well as private, charter and home schools.

Students are recognized with Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mentions Awards.

Today, the Alliance works with more than 100 visual and literary-arts organizations across the country to bring The Awards to local communities. Teens in grades 7 through 12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for their chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published.

In the last five years alone, students submitted nearly 900,000 original works of art and writing. During that period, more than 60 top arts institutes and colleges have partnered with the Awards to make $40 million in scholarships and financial aid available to regional and national Scholastic Award winners.

The Awards, now presented by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, not only celebrate the rich future of artistic America, but also document its past. The program has been credited with identifying early talent in generations of America’s cultural icons, including Truman Capote (1932), Richard Avedon (1941), Andy Warhol (ca. 1945), Sylvia Plath (1947), Robert Redford (1954) and Zac Posen (1998), each of who won the award when they were in high school.

Student works are evaluated by industry leaders and exhibited in New York City venues as well as cities across the country through the traveling exhibit, ART.WRITE.NOW. These exhibitions give audiences the opportunity to see the work of the nation’s top young artists and writers, inspiring appreciation for the teens’ maturity, talent and originality. For most young winners, this recognition is their first experience of being identified as serious artists and writers, and the impact on their self-perception can be life changing.

Selections from The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are published in the National Catalog and The Best Teen Writing, which are distributed free of charge to schools and libraries nationwide. Works have also appeared in Scholastic publications including The Best Young Writers & Artists in America (Push), Scope magazine, Junior Scholastic magazine, Scholastic Art magazine, and New York Times Upfront magazine.

The program has fostered encouragement in millions of young people for almost a century. Since the program’s inception, The Awards have encouraged more than 13 million students and recognized over nine million young artists and writers.

Seniors earning National Medals are eligible to receive scholarships through partnerships with esteemed colleges and universities.

Regional Gold Key art and writing winners will advance to the national level of judging in New York City. Each year, winners are invited to receive awards and scholarships at Carnegie Hall, where they also gain opportunity to participate in artist workshops.

2014 Regional Art Awards

Gold Key Winners

TETRIX by Eleazar Mendoza

Eisenhower High School
Student: Eleazar Mendoza
Category: Mixed Media
Work Title: Tetrix
Teacher: Dr. Michaelann Kelly

Nimitz High School
Student: Jazzman Washington
Category: Sculptor
Work Title: Dragon Mask
Teacher: Leslie Rowney

Victory Early College High School
Student: Miguel Parra
Category: Photography
Work Title: Following Old Steps
Teacher: Schwartz

Silver Key Winners

Pictured are Aldine High students (l-r) Rosio Barriga, Estefany Morales Flores, Slivia Rodriguez, Daniela Carrizales, Emily Villata with teacher Wylie Hachey.

Aldine High School
Student: Estefany Morales Flores
Category: Drawing
Work Title: El Hombre Con la Guitarra
Teacher: Wylie Hachey

Student: Silvia Rodríguez
Category: Sculpture
Work Title: Bailar Conmigo
Teacher: Wylie Hachey

Student: Emily Villalta
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Segundo Cupcake
Teacher: Wylie Hachey

Carver High School
Student: Llian Álvarez
Category: Portfolio
Work Title: Llian’s 3D Portfolio
Teacher: Zachery Walters

Photograph by Victory Early College High student Miguel Parra.

Student: Cynthia Coronado
Category: Printmaking
Work Title: Mood Swings
Teacher: Laura Luna

Student: José García
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Spring’s First Flower
Teacher: Zachery Walters

Student: Antoniette Stewart
Category: Painting
Work Title: Gods of High School
Teacher: Laura Luna

Artwork by Victory Early College High student Selena Cruz.

Nimitz High School
Student: Yanely Cisneros
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Spiritual Touch
Teacher: Leslie Rowney

Student: Joe Klaus
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Forked Out Insect
Teacher: Leslie Rowney

Student: Linda López
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Who Irons Anymore?
Teacher: Leslie Rowney

Student: Adriana Rivera
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Reflection of the Past
Teacher: Leslie Rowney

Teague Middle School
Student: La’Jasha Champion
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Tribal Pixie
Teacher: Birgit Langhammer

Artwork by Victory Early College High School student Cynthia Cisneros.

Victory Early College High School
Student: Cynthia Cisneros
Category: Digital Art
Work Title: Sol y Luna
Teacher: Schwartz

Honorable Mention Awards

Aldine High School
Student: Rosio Barriga
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Not You
Teacher: Wylie Hachey

Student: Daniela Carrizales
Category: Mixed Media
Work Title: Fear of God
Teacher: Wylie Hachey

Aldine High student Erykah Davis shows off her artwork with teacher Karen Cruise.

Student: Erykah Davis
Category: Photography
Work Title: Shattered
Teacher: Karen Cruise

Carver High School
Student: Lliann Álvarez
Category: Drawing
Work Title: She Wants Out
Teacher: Laura Luna

Student: Kimberly Chandias
Category: Printmaking
Work Title: Hungry
Teacher: Laura Luna

Student: Brianna Cole
Category: Printmaking
Work Title: All of Her Faces
Teacher: Laura Luna

Pictured (l-r) are Valerie Nguyen, art teacher Marilynn Venne and Thang Phung from Davis High.

Student: Diana Lerma
Category: Portfolio
Work Title: Barbie Legend
Teacher: Zachery Walters

Student: Jamie Padron
Category: Painting
Work Title: Nu Zhanshi
Teacher: Laura Luna

Davis High School
Student: Valerie Nguyen
Category: Mixed Media
Work Title: Collective Collections
Teacher: Marilyn Venne

Artwork by Victory Early College High student Michelle Tran.

Student: Thang Phung
Category: Drawing
Work Title: The Phoenix
Teacher: Marilyn Venne

Drew Academy
Student: Jacob Castellanos
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Aves
Teacher: Allison Hamacher

Eisenhower High School
Student: Taylor Davidson
Category: Portfolio
Work Title: Progression of My Point of View
Teacher: Megan Weeks

Student: April Galván
Category: Portfolio
Work Title: Exploring the World Around Me
Teacher: Dr. Michaelann Kelley

Student: Rosa Herrera
Category: Drawing
Work Title: House
Teacher: Dr. Michaelann Kelley

Pictured are MacArthur High student Nancy Franco and her art teacher Amber Quiroz.

Student: Rosa Herrera
Category: Painting
Work Title: Self-portrait
Teacher: Dr. Michaelann Kelley

Student: Briana Mayes
Category: Photography
Work Title: Wrecker
Teacher: Dr. Michaelann Kelley

Student: Hoa Nguyen
Category: Painting
Work Title: 9 Faces
Teacher: Dr. Michaelann Kelley

Student: Quan Nguyen
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Handle Bar
Teacher: Kaileigh Rosplohowski

Pictured are Victory Early College High students (l-r) Michelle Tran, Selena Cruz, Cynthia Cisneros and Miguel Parra.

Student: Monique Sontchi
Category: Drawing
Work Title: The Remembrance Kiss
Teacher: Dr. Michaelann Kelley

MacArthur High School
Student: Nancy Franco
Category: Photography
Work Title: Mountain Dew
Teacher: Amber Quiroz

Nimitz High School

Artwork by Brandon Olivares of Stovall Middle School.

Student: Yanely Cisneros
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Flash Mob
Teacher: Leslie Rowney

Student: Calvin Davidson
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Prayer
Teacher: Leslie Rowney

Student: Tiffany García
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Crystal
Teacher: Leslie Rowney

Student: Gustavo Leal
Category: Drawing
Work Title: The Making of the Iron
Teacher: Lelsie Rowney

Student: Jessica López
Category: Drawing
Work Title: A Wrinkle in Time
Teacher: Leslie Rowney

Brandon Olivares of Stovall Middle School with his art teacher Monica Thayer.

Shotwell Middle School
Student: Rafael López
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Wings of a Lover
Teacher: Frazior

Stovall Middle School
Student: Brandon Olivares
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Break Up Note
Teacher: Thayer

Victory Early College High School
Student: Selena Cruz
Category: Mixed Media
Work Title: Dreams? Aspirations? I Don’t Know Those.
Teacher: Larissa Schwartz

Artwork by Victory Early College High School student Michelle Tran.

Student: Michelle Tran
Category: Painting
Work Title: I’m Fine
Teacher: Larissa Schwartz

Student: Michelle Tran
Category: Drawing
Work Title: Secret
Teacher: Larissa Schwartz

2014 Regional Writing Awards

Silver Key Winners

Carver High School
Student: Nhi Vu
Category: Personal Essay/Memoir
Work Title: Tying Up Loose Ends
Teacher: Kochersperger

Eisenhower High School

Edgar Vega from Eisenhower High.

Student: Edgar Vega
Category: Poetry
Work Title: Celestial (Download his Poem)
Teacher: Dr. Michaelann Kelley

Honorable Mention Winners

Eisenhower High School
Student: Ana Sánchez
Category: Personal Essay/Memoir
Work Title: Strength From Struggles
Teacher: Roy

Student: Dasia Warner
Category: Personal Essay/Memoir
Work Title: Ham and Turkey

A group image of the Nimitz High School Scholastic Art and Writing Award winners.

Teacher: Dr. Micahelann Kelley