Mount Pleasant High School Art students entered 49 pieces in the Region 8 Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) competition on Saturday, February 22 at Chisum High School, competing against a total of 319 pieces. Artwork was scored as a 4 (Excellent), a 3 (Strong), a 2 (Developing), or a 1 (Emerging). Fourty-five of the 49 MPHS pieces received medals and seven students have advanced to state, one with two pieces. Only 26 pieces in the entire region qualified for state so MPHS students made up over 30% of those advancing.

In order to advance to state, the piece must first earn a rating of 4. All of the 4’s in a particular division are then judged a second time and state advancements are awarded based on an allotment, roughly 10% in each division. Earning scores of 4 (Excellent) and moving on to state are junior Ailyen DeLaRosa for Fabi, junior Dayanara Pulquero with Calm Envy, junior Jaydy Martinez with Color Jaydy in Stipple, junior Valerie Cassio for Milonese, freshman Michelle Garrett with two pieces titled Mario and Summertime Turtle, freshman Kiara Mickens with A Good Day, and freshman Vanessa Aspeitia with Narcissist. This will be DeLaRosa’s and Pulquero’s second trip to state.

Gold medalists also earning scores of 4 (Excellent) are Jasmin Alvarez, Joaquin Arguello, Natalia Aspeitia, Alan Barrientos, Lorianny Beltre, Ailyen DeLaRosa, Brian DelCarmen Memije, Trisha Easley, Danna Escobar, Emily Floyd, Leilani Hardwick, Alexsandra Garcia, Avery Hale, Evelyn Hernandez, Jordan Krumrie, Mollie Luck, Jaydy Martinez, Mattie Merriman, Valerie Moss, Helen Munoz, Dayanara Pulquero, Max Robles, Zayma Rodriguez, Cassandra Saavedra, Margarita Sauceda, Tatiana Vazquez, and Josue Vega.

Silver medalists earning scores of 3 (Strong) are Emma Ainsworth, Terrelle Beard, Aloani Laboy, and Adan Torres.

The state Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) competition will be held at San Marcos High School on April 25-26. The MPHS Art program is under the direction of Laura Kirkland.

Photos –

De la rosa: State qualifier Ailyen DeLaRosa with her piece, Fabi

Pulquero: State qualifier Dayanara Pulquero with her piece, Calm Envy

Martinez: State qualifier Jaydy Martinez with her piece, Color Jaydy in Stipple

Cassio: State qualifier Valerie Cassio with her piece, Milonese

Garrett 1: State qualifier Michelle Garrett with her 1st piece, Summer Turtle

Garrett 2: Michelle Garrett with her 2nd state qualifying piece, Mario

Mickens: State qualifier Kiara Mickens with her piece, A Good Day

Aspeitia: State qualifier Vanessa Aspeitia with her piece, Narcissist