San Marcos High School Art Students Receive Awards, Multiple Exhibit Locations Throughout Texas

Of the more than 150 pieces given the prestigious Gold Seal, only 23 were three dimensional pieces like those of the San Marcos High School (very talented) art students.

San Marcos High School has six student artists who have been recognized at the state level, according to SMHS Visual Arts Content Leader Chris Cooper.

Four have qualified as All-State Artists, with top ratings with the TAEA Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) organization. In addition, two students were selected as TAEA Youth Art Month all-state artists.

The following students will be recognized by the San Marcos CISD School Board on Monday, May 15, at the regular meeting at Central Office:

• Jordan Gamez, All-State Artist, State VASE, Gold Seal winner, scholarship recipient
• Olivia Zdeb, All-State Artist, State VASE, Gold Seal winner
• Isabel Rocha, All-State Artist, State VASE (second year)
• Isabella De La Iglesia, All-State Artist, State VASE (second year)
• Natalie Flores, All-State Artist, State Youth Art Month
• Margaret Hoover, All-State Artist, State Youth Art Month

According to Cooper, the artwork of the Gold Seal winners—Gamez and Zdeb— will now travel around the state of Texas in various exhibits until November 2017.

Of the more than 150 pieces given the prestigious Gold Seal, only 23 were three dimensional pieces like those of the SMHS students.

The award-winning pieces of the remaining students will be on display at the May 15 school board meeting.

Gamez, Zdeb, and Rocha are AP students of SMHS art teacher Thom Rogers; De La Iglesia is a student of SMHS art teacher Amy Hall. Youth Art Month all-state artist Flores is a student of Jessica Botello, and Hoover is an AP student working with Thom Rogers.

The mission of VASE is to recognize exemplary student achievement in the Visual Arts by providing art students and programs a standard of excellence in which to achieve.