El Paso Independent School District recently announced the proud winners of its 35th Annual Holiday Card Contest, a tradition that engenders participation from a diverse range of student artists within the district. High school honors went to Rose Macias of El Paso High School, Dayana Echavarria of Navarrete Middle School took the middle school prize, and Orlando Quiñones from Tinajero PK–8 clinched the elementary division.
Commended for a piece bursting with cultural vibrancy, Rose Macias expressed to El Paso ISD her excitement and pride: "I feel happy and excited that my work is going to be seen by a lot of people,” while her teacher, Elijah Escobar, recognized her Chicano style as both unique and impressive. Navarrete Middle School's Dayana Echavarria stood out for her advanced color blending technique, which her art teacher and former contest participant, Elizabeth Lerma, labeled as both careful and detailed. This year's contest, which saw close to 400 entries, continues to serve not just to identify young talent but also to weave the threads of community and creativity.
Orlando Quiñones' winning art in the elementary category was marked by its joyful use of color, as noted by his instructor, Claudia Galindo, who highlighted the positive push contests like these can give to students’ academic and artistic pursuits. In a display of appreciation, the district's artworks will be showcased at the EPISD Fine Arts Gallery through January's end. District Visual Arts Facilitator Andrea Smith, as obtained by El Paso ISD, extolled the power of student creativity, emphasizing "how powerful student creativity can be," and recognizing it as a conduit of joy, culture, and originality.
The public can view the artworks of these promising young artists, alongside others from the district, at the gallery until the end of January. El Paso ISD reaffirms its mission through this annual celebration to inspire and to uphold the spirit of holidays through the lens of student perspectives.
