HAP Congratulates The 2018 Mayor's Art Scholarship Recipients

The fifth annual Mayor's Art Scholarship Reception was held in the Legacy Room of Houston's City Hall on April 11, 2018. Since 2014, the Houston Arts Partners coalition has partnered with the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor's Office of Education to recognize outstanding student artwork on the themes of Neighborhoods, Identity, and Diversity. This year, 159 students from 17 public school districts and public charter systems participated.

At the reception, Mayor Sylvester Turner met the awardees and gave remarks on the importance of arts education for all students. Eepi Chaad, the Youth and Community Outreach Coordinator at Art League Houston (a HAP partner organization) and one of the Mayor's Art Scholarship judges, and Wenden Sanders, Director of Fine Arts for Houston Independent School District, also spoke. Radu Barbuceanu, the Community Liaison for the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, announced the awardees.

Also in attendance were Councilmember Karla Cisneros, Chief of Police Art Acevedo, and Debbie McNulty, Director of the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs. Jesse Espinosa and the Waltrip High School Jazz Combo from Houston ISD performed.

All the artwork will remain on display on the fourth floor of the Houston Public Library - Central Library through May 6, 2018. The Central Library is located at 500 McKinney, Houston, Texas 77002.

11th Grade Awardees
1st Place: Sonali Puri, Never Forget
Foster HS, Lamar Consolidated ISD

2nd Place: Tiffany Chang, Lost
Clements HS, Fort Bend ISD

3rd Place: Christina Zhang, Roots
Clements HS, Fort Bend ISD

12th Grade Awardees

1st Place: Emilio Recio, Cautious Moves
Sam Rayburn HS, Pasadena ISD

2nd Place: D'Lynn Gutierrez, Through Disaster We Grow
Cypress Lakes HS, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

3rd Place (Tie): Michael-David Archibong, Future
Foster HS, Lamar Consolidated ISD

3rd Place (Tie): Alton Valier, Beyond the Pines
Westbury HS, Houston ISD