AUSTIN — East Point Elementary fifth-grader Asa Aguilar, of El Paso, won top honors in the General Land Office’s Treasures of the Texas Coast 2005 Children’s Art Contest. Her work was chosen over more than 6,300 other entries said Jerry Patterson, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office.
“Asa’s entry captures the essence of sunrise or sunset on a Texas beach,” Patterson said. “Its vivid, jewel-like colors suggest the contest theme: Treasures of the Texas Coast. But as talented as Asa is, many of the other entries were equally good, making it awfully hard to pick an overall winner.”
Asa, 10, and her teacher, Gwynn Flato, will each receive two round-trip, coach-class tickets from Continental Airlines to any Continental destination in the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Asa’s classmates will also get a class party at one of two Schlitterbahn Waterparks (in New Braunfels or South Padre Island).
Two winners from every region in the state have also been chosen. All 48 regional winners will receive a ticket to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, two all-day passes to Schlitterbahn Waterparks, a journal made of recycled denim from Keep Texas Beautiful, a certificate of recognition from the commissioner and a calendar featuring the winning artwork.
Their winning artwork will be featured in the General Land Office’s Children’s Art Contest Calendar, which will be available in January 2006. The winning artwork will also be on exhibit at the Texas State Capitol March 31-April 2, in the Central Gallery, Capitol Extension, Level 2.
This year’s contest sponsors are Continental Airlines, Schlitterbahn Waterparks, the Texas State Aquarium and Keep Texas Beautiful.
The annual contest is organized through the General Land Office’s Adopt-A-Beach Program. This year’s Spring Cleanup is scheduled to take place Saturday, April 23 at 29 sites along the Texas coast.
“Adopt-A-Beach cleanups are a fun way to help the environment and beautify the Texas coast,” Patterson said. “Whenever you enjoy a day at the beach, remember to thank the thousands of Adopt-A-Beach volunteers who make it more enjoyable.”
The artwork submitted to the Children’s Art Contest is used to support and promote volunteer participation at the Adopt-A-Beach Cleanups.
For more information on the Adopt-A-Beach Program or the Children’s Art Contest, call toll-free 1-877-TXCOAST. The artwork will be displayed later this week on the Adopt-A-Beach Web site at: www.texasadoptabeach.org.
2005 ART CONTEST WINNERS
1. LAUREN ASTON, GAINESVILLE
2. ASA AGUILAR, EL PASO – GRAND PRIZE WINNER
3. AUSTIN BURKHARDT, THORNDALE
4. JOANNA CHYU, LUBBOCK
5. DEANNA DOUGLASS, DICKINSON
6. ANDREA DOWLING, BURKBURNETT
7. MEGAN DUFFARD, COLLEGE STATION
8. APRIL EAKIN, WACO
9. DEBRA ESCAMILLA, LAREDO
10. NATALIE ESPARZA, BATESVILLE
11. JIN FANG, AUSTIN
12. IRIS FULTON, MIDLAND
13. GABRIELA GARZA, BROWNSVILLE
14. JENNA GERDES, EDNA
15. KAMIE HALFMANN, GARDEN CITY
16. BEN HUGHES, COLLEGE STATION
17. BROOKE HURLEY, LUFKIN
18. ELLE HUSSEY, PARIS
19. COBY LARKIN, THORNDALE
20. CORY LEE, PIPE CREEK
21. JARED LEE, SAN ANGELO
22. ALLISON LOGGINS, BOERNE
23. MELISSA LOPEZ, LAREDO
24. BRITTANY LUMPKIN, PANOLA
25. JILLIAN MEADORS, WACO
26. AMANDA MONROE, ARANSAS PASS
27. NIKKI MOORE, SWEETWATER
28. KIRSTAN MURILLO, DALLAS
29. ASHLEY MUSGRAVE, HASLET
30. REYNA OBENA, SAN ANGELO
31. DIANNA O’BRIANT, PARIS
32. MARC ORDONEZ, EL PASO
33. ARLENE ORTIZ, BOVINA
34. BEATRIZ PLATA, AMARILLO
35. CHELSEA REEVES, BURKBURNETT
36. HANNAH REEVES, VIDOR
37. AUSTIN RIOJAS, LUBBOCK
38. ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, DEL RIO
39. JESSIE RODRIGUEZ, VICTORIA
40. JUAN RODRIGUEZ, GAINESVILLE
41. DELANEY ROGERS, PFLUGERVILLE
42. JAMES SALGADO, PORT ISABEL
43. NERY SERRANO, PALESTINE
44. LAURA SIMS, SWEETWATER
45. MARY-CAROLINE TREVINO, CORPUS CHRISTI
46. KATELYNN WALKER, LUFKIN
47. KALENA WILLIAMS, DICKINSON
48. MICHELLE WINSTEAD, BEAUMONT