COPPERAS COVE – Five Bulldawgs advanced to State as CCHS art students earned 24 VASE medals.
Copperas Cove ISD has announced that Copperas Cove High School students Arvind Armas, Nydiah Jones, Sydney Potter, Amaya Troxell and Tayna Indio-Ascencio have advanced to the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) State Championships for their work.
“These results highlight not only the incredible talent and dedication of our students, but also the commitment of our art educators to providing high-quality instruction and meaningful artistic experiences,” said CCISD Director of Fine Arts Megan Kenobbie. “We are extremely proud of our Bulldawgs for their hard work and success.”
Armas saw two different pieces advance to State, his second consecutive year advancing to the state championships.
“Qualifying for state for the second consecutive year, and this time with two pieces, means everything to me,” Armas said. “Since childhood, I’ve dedicated countless hours to experimenting with and mastering different mediums, and my VASE pieces stand as a true reflection of that commitment.”
Nydiah Jones advanced to State with one of her two Area-qualifying pieces.
“Making State means delivering a message from my world to something that is bigger than me,” Jones said. “It means that people are interested in something I have to offer and I am endlessly grateful for the opportunity.”
Sydney Potter’s Area-qualifying piece advanced to State. So did Amaya Troxell with her piece.
“Going to state VASE means to me that my efforts and dedication alone, and not talent, allowed me to grow to obtain this art achievement that I have rightfully acquired,” Troxell said.
Tayna Indio-Ascencio also earned a spot at State with one of her pieces.
“I've always loved art, but nothing compares to the joy I feel watching my students step into what they love,” said CCHS Art teacher and VASE co-sponsor Crissy Bachie. “Seeing them create, compete in VASE competition and succeed in something they're passionate about—it’s one of the greatest joys of my life.”
In total, 24 students submitted 28 pieces of artwork competed in the VASE Regionals in March, with six pieces advancing to state and 18 more earning medals at Regionals and Area. CCHS VASE students are led by Bachie, Linda Lapierre and Marcus Harris, the campus’ visual art teachers.
Students who earned medals at the Regional and Area levels were:
Gabriella Garcia
Logan Pinkstaff
Kaitlyn Cason
Elena-Cherie Holmes
Addison Weatherly
Veronika Hankins-Bowyer
Phoebe Smith
Claire Tom
Aaliyah Harper
Valerie King
Phoebe Missler
Luis Rendives Mendoza
Isabella Hays
Milena Hemingway
Sanaya White
Nariyah Hill
Robert Pardue
The Texas Art Education Association State VASE Event is scheduled for April 24-25 in San Marcos.
VASE competition in Texas dates back to 1980, when a group of Texas art educators began to plan a visual art competition for students which builds on their classroom instruction and included standards found in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
In 2025, CCISD saw two students from CCHS advance to State, with eight more from Copperas Cove Jr. High earning gold medals in the middle school competition.