Every year, a statewide student art contest is held. Students from the schools in a division submit their work, and the best of the bunch is submitted for judging.

Recently, Kathy Rice, the superintendent, introduced the artwork and the student behind each piece. The principals from each school took it from there. Although there are four schools in the division, there can be only one piece of artwork from each group. That means one piece from the elementary school level, one from middle school, and one from high school.

“All of the artwork submitted for that competition is outstanding and high quality,” commented Rice. “It’s a very tough competition, but we’re really excited.”

Principal Holly Angel of Cople Elementary School showed off what Analeigh Izaguirre, one of her fifth graders, had done. Each student, if they were present, was given a certificate of recognition. For those not present, the certificate was presented to the principal of their school.

Izaguirre was not present for her certificate, but Armondo Mendez, a junior at Westmoreland High School, very much was. His artwork took third place at the regional level.

Neither Ximena Becerra, an 8th-grader from Montross Middle School, nor her artwork— a stunning piece called “Carnival”—was available on the night of the School Board meeting. Her artwork snatched first place in the region’s middle school division.

As a result of that achievement, Becerra’s artwork will be displayed at the VSBA offices for the next year, and then it will be returned. Her artwork also goes to the state level, with the chance to win not just a trophy but potentially a $1,000 prize if she gets 1st place.

School Board Chairman Ralph Fallin had words of congratulation for the students involved, stating, “We want to thank all of our students that have participated and created this artwork, as well as their teachers.

“One of the things that we talk quite a bit about is the importance of creativity,” Fallin continued. “And I really think that art is one of the most effective ways of stimulating creativity in our students.

“The competition was incredible, and everyone deserves quite a bit of credit.”