Katy ISD Students Bring Home Top Honors at State Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE)
Seventeen high school students won state medals for their outstanding artwork at the Visual Art Scholastic Event recently held at the University of Houston Clear Lake. Two of those students were awarded the Gold Seal, which is the Texas Art Education Association’s highest award at VASE.
The TAEA has sponsored VASE since 1994, which is the only art event of its kind in the nation. Students are provided the opportunity to bring artworks created in their art classes to a regional event where they are interviewed by a certified juror who evaluates their work on a standards-based rubric and their understanding of the art processes involved in the development of their artwork.
Angela John, Katy High School senior, was one of the Gold Seal winners for her mixed medium piece, Perfunctory, under art teacher Laura Williams and received a state medal for her mixed medium piece, Inside, under her art teacher Mary Miller.
Senior Edgar Palomo also participated from Katy High School as well as senior C.J. Escobar who won a state medal.
The other Gold Seal winner was Taylor High School senior, Samantha Davis, who participated with her art teacher Nancy Huffman. Taylor students who were awarded a VASE state medal are: sophomore Paul Kim, senior Shana Solley, senior Iris Miao, in addition to seniors Brandy Leone and Renai Eads who participated with their teacher Adina Reeves. Sophomore Linda Shi also participated from Taylor High School.
Seven Lakes High School art teacher Kim Glasgow brought 10 students to the VASE competition. Medal winners from Seven Lakes include: freshman Molly Bai, sophomore Maria Camila Ballestas, junior Jorge Faz, sophomore Alex Rebeck, senior Danielle Roberts, sophomore Janice Shang and sophomore Wenjing Zhang. Additional students who participated: senior Tate Mitchell, senior Edward Oh and sophomore Nadya Repina.
Hannah Butler, a Morton Ranch senior also won a state medal for her acrylic painting, Self Portrait Two Ways, under her teacher Angie Gasser. In addition, a Morton Ranch sophomore who could not be named also received two state medals.
Senior Deborah Olalla, from Mayde Creek High School participated with her teacher Sophia Buddenhagen submitting her painting and mixed media artwork.