Every year in Texas, on one intense day, students’ art is judged. Only few will make it to the last competition, to emerge in victory, to know that their art is the best.

The Visual Arts Scholastic Event, VASE, is a yearly art contest held for Texas students to compete against one another for awards. Every student creates his or her own piece to enter and be judged by professional artists. Twenty two works of art from WEHS received the highest rating and were awarded medals.

“The students were judged on both the visual aspects of their artwork and on an interview with a juror where they discuss the elements of design and the technical processes that went into their work,” Art Teacher Jennifer Thompson said.

Competition participant Lesley Howard joined this year’s VASE competition because she had a desire to have her art professionally judged.

“It took me three weekends to work on my piece,” Howard said. “I was nervous because I was afraid the judges wouldn’t like my work.”

Each piece created must meet certain expectations, and must stay within certain boundaries.

“I made a drawing of my sister, because I wanted to do something for her. I drew it with pencil; she’s laying down with her arms stretched out,” Howard said.

This year’s regional VASE competition for Wylie area was Saturday Feb. 16. The students that score the highest in the regionl competition will move to state, where their art will be judged alongside other high-scoring students throughout Texas.

Artwork is judged based on skill-level and neatness, mainly. When it recieves a Superior Rating (IV), it gains a regional medal. Certain regional metal winners will move to the state event held at Clear Falls High School in Clear Creek.

“The hardest thing about preparing for the competition was getting my drawing just right,” Howard said. “But everyone is excited, and I’m hoping it will go well.”

Seniors Kathryn Riley and Kassandra Garcia advanced to the State VASE competition, which will be held at Bryan High School April 6.

Following are the other student winners:

Division 1:

Lesley Howard

Kathryn Riley

Division 2:

Michelle Luu

Linda Nguyen (2 medals)

Paul Olajimi

Marissa Padilla

Andrew Rothe

Dominique Skinner

Matthew Solecki (2 medals)

Division 4:

Kiera Bell (2 medals)

Cassandra Chumley

Kassandra Garcia (2 medals)

Aaron Hunt

Abigail Rodriguez

Savanna Salazar (2 medals)

Matthew Savage

Kyle White