Texas Border Business
Approximately four in every five pieces of artwork submitted by McAllen ISD middle school students earned the highest rating at the Junior Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) held March 23 in Pharr.
Students from all six McAllen ISD middle schools earned an award. The District earned 75 awards with either the Excellent Rating (highest) or a Platinum Medal (top 10 percent of each division).
Five McAllen ISD art students earned a platinum medal. They are Maya Dominguez (Cathey Middle School), Evelyn Noriega (Cathey), Allan Juarez Alfonso (De Leon Middle School), Sebastian Amado (Fossum Middle School) and Porter Callender (Morris Middle School).
The number of artworks from each school that received the Excellent Rating included Brown Middle School (nine artworks), Cathey (13), De Leon (12), Fossum 16), Morris (nine) and Travis (11). In Morris’ case, 100 percent of its student artwork earned the Excellent Rating.
“In all, 80 percent of all McAllen ISD artwork was evaluated as a Division 4,” McAllen ISD Fine Arts Director Jim Egger said. “Congratulations to all of these very talented middle school art students and their hard-working teachers.”
At this event, each student presented a work of art and was interviewed by a juror about this artwork. The jurors then evaluated the artwork based on originality of concept, technical expertise, understanding of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (state requirements) and the interpretation of the student’s stated intent. Many students presented more than one work of art.
The jurors evaluate the art using the following standards:
•Rating 4 — Excellent
•Rating 3 — Strong
•Rating 2 — Developing
•Rating 1 — Emerging
