Four Mount Pleasant High School students advanced with six pieces to the state level of the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), with three of those students earning state medals for their work. The VASE state competition was held at San Marcos Consolidated High School on April 26-27. Students from 29 regions in Texas compete for a chance to advance to the state VASE event. Of the over 33,000 entries at regionals, just over 2,300, or 7%, advance to the state level.

MPHS junior, Josue Vega, earned a state gold medal for his piece “The Boys”. Vega, for the second year in a row, had two pieces advance from Regionals to the state competition. This is Vega’s 2nd state gold medal as he also medaled in 2023 with his piece, “Cowboys”.

MPHS sophomore, Ailyen De la Rosa, earned her first state gold medal for her piece, “Cherished”. De la Rosa also had two pieces advance from Regionals to the state competition.

And MPHS sophomore, Dayanara Pulquero, also earned her first state gold medal for her piece, “Red”.

“It is my privilege to announce our state VASE medalist for 2024,” said MPHS Art instructor, Laura Kirkland. “These students have worked so hard, including many long hours creating these beautiful pieces. I am so proud of each of them and honored to call them my students! All the artwork that went to State VASE, including these pieces that received a medal and a rating of a 4, will be displayed in the HS Art studio windows until the end of the school year.”

Photo:

MPHS VASE State medalists and their pieces (L to R) Daynara Pulquero, Ailyen De la Rosa, Jose Vega