Nine students and three employees in the Socorro Independent School District were awarded for their creative art work in the second annual “What’s Poppin?!?” Art Contest.
The districtwide contest was open to students and employees who submitted artwork reflecting popular or mass culture. Prizes were awarded to the top three pieces in each category – elementary school, middle school, high school, and the employee category.
The contest generated plenty of inspiring, colorful and creative artwork from both students and employees across the district.
“I think it’s an excellent contest and we want to keep it going,” said SISD visual arts specialist SISD Macka Jones. “The amount of participation we had this year is phenomenal.”
Pop art itself is a representation of popular culture and what is trending these days, Jones said. The contest allows students and adults to express themselves through art in a fashion they can relate to through their points of interests.
“I felt really good about my submission. I really liked it,” said Alyssa Salgado, fourth grader at James P. Butler Elementary School and first-place winner in the elementary school category. “I really want to say thank you to my art teacher Ms. Cardenas for helping me with my piece.”
Tania Casas-Ramos, a senior at El Dorado High School and first-place winner for the high school category, said the contest helped clear her mind and helped her cope with remote learning and the pandemic.
“As an artist, everyone goes through what we call artist block,” Casas-Ramos said, “These contests definitely help you open your mind, try out new things and get out of that art block.”
SISD 2nd Annual “What’s Poppin?!?” Art Contest winners:
Elementary School
Alyssa Salgado – 1st place, James P. Butler Elementary School, Teacher: Claudia Cardenas
Alejandria Lopez – 2nd place, O’Shea Keleher Elementary School, Teacher: Abryl Govea
Aubrey Perez – 3rd place, O’Shea Keleher Elementary School, Teacher: Abryl Govea
Middle School
Amber Soto – 1st place, Hurshel Antwine Middle School, Teacher: Elizabeth Trow
Kayla Delgado – 2nd place, Capt. Walter E. Clarke Middle School, Teacher: Ruby Franco
Sheylah Olmos – 3rd place, Montwood Middle School, Teacher: Abel Saucedo
High School
Tania Casas-Ramos – 1st place, El Dorado High School, Teacher: Virginia Castaneda
Alexandra Longoria – 2nd place, El Dorado High School, Teacher: Miguel Picos
Alexis Hernandez – 3rd place, El Dorado High School, Teacher: Miguel Picos
Employee
Ruby Franco – 1st place, art teacher, Capt. Walter E. Clarke Middle School
Ever Acosta – 2nd place, art teacher, KEYS Academy
Ruby Franco – 3rd place, art teacher, Capt. Walter E. Clarke Middle School
