Victoria ISD is proud to announce the success of our young artists at the recent Junior Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE). VISD students secured the majority of the region's highest honors.
The Junior VASE event, sponsored by the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA), is the only art competition of its kind in the nation. This year, the regional event saw a record of 107 entries, with 99 of those pieces moving forward to be officially scored by a panel of expert jurors.
The highest achievement possible at the Junior VASE level is the Platinum Medallion. This award is reserved for a tiny fraction of entries that demonstrate a "Standard of Excellence" in both creative technical skill and the student's ability to articulate their artistic process during a formal interview.
Of the 99 scored entries, only eight students from the entire region were selected to receive the prestigious Platinum Medallion. Remarkably, five of those eight top honors were awarded to Victoria ISD students.
To earn a Platinum Medallion, these students went through an evaluation process that included an interview with a juror to discuss their research, use of art elements, and the personal expression behind their work. Winning this award distinguishes these students as some of the top middle school artists in the state of Texas.
"We are incredibly proud of these students and their dedicated teachers," said VISD District Visual Arts Facilitator Jamie Sainz. "To have our district represent over 60% of the region's Platinum Medallions is a testament to the strength of the arts program in Victoria ISD and the hard work our students put into their craft every day."
Please join us in congratulating these talented young men and women for their historic achievement!
Victoria ISD's 2026 Platinum Medallion Winners:
Division 1
Artist: Denee Popish
Title: "Two Worlds Colliding"
8th Grade
Campus: STEM MS
Teacher: Carmen Vanegas
Division 2
Artist: Brenae Key
Title: "Phoebe and Her Mind"
7th Grade
Campus: Howell MS
Teacher: Krysta Lyssy
Artist: Daniel Deleon III
Title: "Value of Love"
8th Grade
Campus: STEM MS
Teacher: Carmen Vanegas
Artist: Isabella Condron
Title: "I Love My Zawg"
8th Grade
Campus: Howell MS
Teacher: Krysta Lyssy
Division 3
Artist: Izabella Rivera
Title: "The Beauty of the Beach"
8th Grade
Campus: STEM MS
Teacher: Carmen Vanegas