Thanks to student talent and teacher dedication, Edison High School has won $15,000 in the Vans High School Custom Culture contest for their school’s art program. Edison students and staff heard that they won the runner-up prize during a live stream celebration this afternoon.

“I have been on cloud nine since the being of February when this whole thing started,” said Rogelio Zamarripa, art student at Edison who designed one of the pairs of shoes that was entered into the contest. “It is just so awesome and such a pleasure to represent San Antonio, especially our District. Being raised here - San Antonio is my hometown - it is so awesome to bring so much attention to the city. It’s amazing to think how we made it this far on this long journey. It’s such an honor.”

Student artists and family members gathered in the school auditorium to view a live-streamed concert, featuring artist Kelly Breeze and musician Jawny, whose video Honeypie has over 21 million views on YouTube.

“There was been a lot of support in the community and here at school,” said Gabriella Placa, senior art student at Edison. “It’s been really fun and I have really been enjoying this year. This Vans competition has been the highlight of my school year! This is such a memorable moment for me and my teachers. 

During the live stream, Edison art teachers Dezarre Boone, Kimberly Campbell and Nancy Faison were asked to open a box where they found a wooden check for $15,000, representing a runner-up prize.

“This is beyond amazing,” said Boone. “I am so proud of my students and the teachers collaborating together despite the pandemic, despite the snowstorm which happened when our design was due! I am so excited. This money is really going to pour in so many materials and equipment that we deserve for the program and for the kids, for generations to come.”

The Edison team was initially selected to compete against 250 other high schools around the nation and moved on to the top 50 and then the top five with a Fiesta-themed qualifying design. Edison students also designed a pair of shoes featuring a clay hand holding pan dulce, a sweet San Antonio staple. 

The custom shoes were created earlier this semester by a collaboration of students working tirelessly both in person and virtually. Zoom calls, text messages, outdoor meetings and late afternoons in the Edison art studios resulted in six concepts. By sharing concepts, images, and ideas through platforms such as Padlet, students on the entire Edison campus were able to share and inspire the lead artists and influence the designs.  

The Vans contest was created to inspire and empower high school students to embrace their creativity through art and design and bring attention to diminishing art education budgets. Vans believes everyone should be empowered to express themselves creatively and should be given the tools to do so.