A young San Antonio student has been awarded the top prize in this year's Martin Luther King Youth Art Contest, a creative competition that stirs local youngsters to contemplate and express the values Dr. King championed. According to a statement obtained by the City of San Antonio, Angelina Paez, a 13-year-old from Kirby Middle School in Judson ISD, crafted a winning collage composed of newspaper clippings. The piece portrays hands joined in unity against the backdrop of San Antonio’s Tower of Americas, tackling the timely theme "Diversity Unites Us: Love Leads Us & Action Propels Us!"
"My artwork shows that it’s not the differences that define us, but the ability to celebrate and accept those differences," Paez astonishingly said, considering her young age. According to the City of San Antonio, her artistic message resonated with the contest judges and earned her a place on the 2026 MLK March commemorative materials. Dr. Doshie Piper, MLK Commission Chairperson, lauded the selection, noting that Paez’s "powerful and inspiring artwork received the most votes and was selected as the 2026 MLK Art Contest winner."
The recognition thrusts Paez's work into the spotlight of the largest MLK March in the nation, organized by the City of San Antonio alongside District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and the MLK Commission. Residents and visitors are invited to participate in the event slated for January 19, 2026, kicking off at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy at 10 a.m. The march leads to a park celebration brimming with cultural performances, youth activities, and various vendors at Pittman-Sullivan Park.
