Four Mount Pleasant High School students advanced 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 29-30. Students from 29 regions in Texas compete for a chance to advance to the state VASE event. Of the over 31,000 entries at regionals, just 2,100 advance to the state level.

MPHS junior, Stephanie Hernandez, earned a state gold medal for her piece, “Eternal Youth.” This is Hernandez’s 2nd state medal. She also medaled in 2022 with her piece, “Flower Child.”

MPHS sophomore, Josue Vega, earned a state gold medal for his piece “Cowboys.” Vega had the unique experience of having two pieces advance from Regionals to the state competition.

And MPHS freshman, Cassandra Saavedra, earned her first state gold medal for her piece, “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

“From 31,000 pieces at Regionals down to the top 1,000 in the state is quite an achievement,” said MPHS art instructor, Laura Kirkland. “I am proud to say MPHS brought home 3 gold medals. I would like to congratulate Stephanie, Josue, and Cassandra. It is truly an honor to be the teacher to these talented students.”

Photos –

1: Stephanie Hernandez with her state medal piece, “Eternal Youth”

2: Josue Vega with his state medal piece, “Cowboys”

3: Cassandra Saavedra with her state medal piece, “Never Gonna Give You Up”