Six Mount Pleasant High School students advanced to the state level of the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) with five earning state medals for their work, and one receiving the prestigious Gold Seal award. The VASE state competition was held at San Marcos Consolidated High School on April 23-24.

Sophomore Kianna Mickens earned the prestigious Gold Seal for her piece Happy Birthday, one of two pieces she had advance to the state level. A VASE Gold Seal is the highest honor in the VASE competition, awarded to fewer than 7% of high school artworks advancing to the State event. It signifies exemplary artwork that demonstrates superior technique, craftsmanship, and creativity, resulting in a special state medallion, “All-State Artist” designation, and traveling exhibition.

Winning state medals were sophomore Vanessa Aspeitia with Trisha and One Random in the Fair in Front of the Fireball, sophomore Michelle Garrett with Ximena, senior Jaydy Martinez with Family Gathering, Mickens with Pride, and senior Cassandra Saavedra with Digression of Youth. These are the second state medals for Aspeitia, Garrett, Martinez, and Saavedra.

Beginning with 32,456 entries, the 2026 VASE competition narrowed to just 2,152 State qualifiers. Ultimately, only 150 artists earned the coveted Gold Seal—an honor that places Mickens in the top 0.46% of artists in Texas. MPHS has only earned that coveted designation one other time in 2011.

“It has been an honor to be the instructor for these students,” said MPHS Art teacher Laura Kirkland. “I have had 3 of them for 4 years and to be able to watch them grow as artists has been a joy. These students put in the time and effort to get better, and it truly shows! I am so proud of them all! This has been a great year for MPHS Art!”

Photos:

1: Kianna Mickens with her Gold Seal piece, Happy Birthday

2: MPHS VASE State Medalists (L to R) Cassandra Saavedra, Jaydy Martinez, Michelle Garrett, Kianna Mickens, Vanessa Aspeitia