SAN ANTONIO – The winners of VIA Metropolitan Transit's Youth Art Contest were honored Thursday at a luncheon in The Grand at VIA Villa.
The theme for this year's contest was "VIA's 20th Anniversary Youth Art Contest! Illustrating VIA's Commitment to Community," in which contestants captured the spirit of San Antonio's community.
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"We have been holding the Youth Art Contest for 20 years now, and we are grateful for the opportunity it gives us to engage the younger segments of our community," said VIA President and CEO Jeff Arndt. "This contest allows VIA to share the benefits of public transportation with students from Pre-K through 12th grade, while also giving them an outlet for their creativity."
Nearly 6,000 entries were submitted, with first and second place awards given out in each grade level.
First place winners were awarded $50, second place winners were awarded $25, and the "Best of Show" winner, Thanh Nguyen of Roosevelt High School, was awarded $250.
Each winner also received a tote bag from the American Diabetes Association, two movie tickets from Santikos Theatres and a $10 gift card from Walgreens, along with school supplies
Nguyen's artwork will be displayed on the outside of two VIA buses, while the first and second place winners' artwork will get displayed on VIA's Classroom on Wheels for one year.
All other entries will be distributed throughout VIA's fleet for the month of June.
The first and place winners in each grade include:
- Pre-Kinder 1st place: Ethan Martinez, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School
- Pre-Kinder 2nd place: Sari Valdez, Keystone School
- Kindergarten 1st place: Aiden Grier, Wanke Elementary
- Kindergarten 2nd place: Emil Abraham, Elrod Elementary
- First Grade 1st place: Sebastian Alvarado, Wilson Elementary
- First Grade 2nd place: Sofia Allen, La Promesa Christian Academy
- Second Grade 1st place: Isabella Quinene, Wilderness Oak Elementary
- Second Grade 2nd place: Willow Brooks, Wetmore Elementary
- Third Grade 1st place: Madison Torrez, Elrod Elementary
- Third Grade 2nd place: Rufus Wilson V, Ward Elementary
- Fourth Grade 1st place: Madeleine Elliot, Wilderness Oak Elementary
- Fourth Grade 2nd place: Hailey Esparza, John Glenn Elementary
- Fifth Grade 1st place: Kyndall Lamb, Lewis Elementary
- Fifth Grade 2nd place: Daniel Wang, San Antonio Academy
- Sixth Grade 1st place: Alicia Sheridan, Luna Middle School
- Sixth Grade 2nd place: Angel Genao, Luna Middle School
- Seventh Grade 1st place: Sabrina Saldaña, Wrenn Middle School
- Seventh Grade 2nd place: Gabriela Salazar, Garcia Middle School
- Eighth Grade 1st place: Sarahi Rivas, School of Science and Technology
- Eighth Grade 2nd place: Frank Bravo, Brentwood Middle School
- Ninth Grade 1st place: Oscar Gonzalez, McCollum High School
- Ninth Grade 2nd place: Idolina Cardona, McCollum High School
- 10th Grade 1st place: Samantha Miller, Roosevelt High School
- 10th Grade 2nd place: Vanessa Perez, Roosevelt High School
- 11th Grade 1st place: Abigail Aguilar, Edgewood Fine Arts Academy
- 11th Grade 2nd place: Nydia Montemayor, Athlos High School
- 12th Grade 1st place: Valerie Perez, Roosevelt High School
- 12th Grade 2nd place: Lorena Cardenas, Roosevelt High School
