May 25, 2022 - This year, students from Comal Independent School District earned top awards for their art pieces in statewide competitions sponsored by the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA). In the high school category, one student received the Gold Seal award; three were named “All-State Artists” and three students qualified for state honors. In the two other categories, 38 middle school students earned high ratings, and 15 elementary students received awards.
These students earned these accolades through TAEA art contests which are offered at every grade level with elementary students competing in the Texas Elementary Art Meet (TEAM), middle school students in the Junior Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), and high school students in High School VASE.
In the High School VASE contest, Canyon Lake High School’s Starla Szopinski received the coveted Gold Seal for her artwork, only the second in CLHS history to earn this distinction. Three student artists received a “Rating IV” which is the mark of an exemplary work of art and received state medallions and were named “All-State Artists.” These students include Brooke Hastings from CLHS, Kate Ferguson from Memorial Early College High School and Priscila Velasquez from MECHS.
Three additional high school students qualified for the state VASE contest. They include Anna Christian from Canyon High, Emily Ingram from Smithson Valley High and Jenna Patch from MECHS.
In the middle school contest, known as Junior VASE, Comal ISD had one student, Ellie Giunta, an eighth-grade student from Smithson Valley Middle School, receive a Platinum Medal, placing in the top 10 percent. Additionally, 37 students earned Division 4 honors.
In the elementary contest, three students from Clear Spring Elementary received the “Top of the TEAM” award which places them in the top 10 percent of entries. These students include Emery Torres, Heidi Spaeth and Khloe Reininger.
Congratulations!
-Canyon Lake High School’s Starla Szopinski received the Gold Seal award for her artwork at VASE.
-Canyon Lake High School student artists, Brooke Hastings, was named an “All-State Artist” for her submission to this year’s VASE competition.
-This original artwork was submitted by Memorial Early College High School student Priscila Velasquez who was named an “All-State Artist.”
-The Comal ISD Board of Trustees recognized this year’s VASE winners during the May board meeting.
-Artwork submitted by Memorial Early College High School student, Kate Ferguson, received a top rating at VASE, and earned her the title of “All-State Artist.”
-Artwork submitted by Canyon Lake High School student Starla Szopinski earned the Gold Seal award at VASE.