Thank you for everyone who participated in this year’s I Am Texas writing and art contest!
The list of Winners are posted below. The 2026 I Am Texas contest opens October 1.
Writing
High School
1st place – $1000 – Hannah C. “Dancing on the Edge of War” Paris HS, Paris ISD
2nd place – $500 – Ashleigh G. “A Husk Not Hollow” Libertas Classical Academy, Magnolia
3rd place – $250 – Anjana A. “Little Miss Sure Shot” Home School, Round Rock
4th place – $125 – Zara S. “A Letter from the Arena” Awty International School, Houston
Honorable Mention – McKenzie W. “The Tale of Sam Williams: From Farm Boy to Bull Rider” Home School, Arlington
Honorable Mention – Nevaeh D. “The Silver Fields” Waco HS, Waco ISD
Middle School
Top Writer – $100 – Lily B. “A Printing Press in Time” Quail Valley MS, Fort Bend ISD
Top Writer – $100 – Alice K. “Lone Star Legacy” Home School, Lucas
Top Writer – $100 – Cora J. “Riding Sideways on the Texas Prairies” Mance Park MS, Huntsville ISD
Honorable Mention – Phoenix G. “Shipwrecked” Seadrift MS, Calhoun County ISD
Honorable Mention – Kyle L. “The Violinist” Fort Settlement MS, Fort Bend ISD
Elementary School Letter Writing
Top Writer – Aaryahi C. “Dear Mr. Thomas Jefferson Rusk” Malala Yousafzai ES, Fort Bend ISD
Top Writer – Jaasritha K. “A Letter of Gratitude to Mr. Sam Houston” Monda J. Akin ES, Leander ISD
Top Writer – Sanvi S. “Dear Mirabeau Lamar” Viola Gilmore Randle ES, Lamar CISD
Honorable Mention – Avery C. “My Grandpa” James Patterson ES, Fort Bend ISD
Honorable Mention – Ethan H. “Dear Colonel James Bowie” Durham Intermediate School, Carroll ISD
Honorable Mention – Hugo H. “Dear David Crockett” Malala Yousafzai ES, Fort Bend ISD
Honorable Mention – Daxon R.P. “Dear Bose Ikard” Parker ES, Galveston ISD
Art
High School
1st place – $1000 – Madelyn T. Lone Star Duet, The Christian School at Castle Hills, San Antonio
2nd place – $500 – Rachael W. Touch of Affection, Memorial HS, Spring Branch ISD
3rd place – $250 – Nicole G. Ready To Go, Jeni Art, Fort Bend
4th place – $125 – Sariah V. Weathered Wear, Klein Cain HS, Klein ISD
Honorable Mention – Katie C. Lady Forge, Clear Springs HS, Clear Creek ISD
Honorable Mention – Jizhou L. Bridges Through Time: Texas, Liberal Arts and Science Academy, Austin ISD
Honorable Mention – Lance L. The Twins of the South, John Foster Dulles HS, Fort Bend ISD
Honorable Mention– Ximin L. A Connection Beyond Words, Jeni Art, Fort Bend
Honorable Mention – Grayson M. King of the Trough, Randle HS, Lamar CISD
Young Maestros Auction Participant – Alisha C. Stampede, Jeni Art, Fort Bend
Young Maestros Auction Participant – Naomi L. Pequeño Chico y Gran Sombrero, Clements HS, Fort Bend ISD
Middle School
Top Artist – $100 – Lydia I. Mission Espada, Dr. John M. Folks MS, Northside ISD
Top Artist – $100 – Isabella J. Brotherhood, Jeni Art, Fort Bend
Top Artist – $100 – Avery W. Hidden Treasure – Pakasqa qhapaq kay, Jeni Art, Fort Bend
Honorable Mention – Duke G. Timeless Gaze, York Junior High, Conroe ISD
Honorable Mention – Audrey H. Faithful Companion, First Colony MS, Fort Bend ISD
Honorable Mention – Apoorva K. Glowing in the Lone Star Light, Tays JH, Katy ISD
Honorable Mention – Maira S. Texas Fall Colors, Fort Settlement MS, Fort Bend ISD
Elementary School
Top Artist – $50 – Trinity C. For the Hard Working People, Austin Parkway ES, Fort Bend ISD
Top Artist – $50 – Amelia H. Magical Longhorn of Texas, Jeni Art, Fort Bend
Top Artist – $50 – Vismai K. My Little Bird, Ronald Thornton MS, Fort Bend ISD
Honorable Mention – Samaira B. My Colourful Texas, Commonwealth ES, Fort Bend ISD
Honorable Mention – Maisy C. Armadillos Wear Boots in Texas, Deerwood ES, Humble ISD
Honorable Mention – Daniel H. Bright Bird, Whitcomb ES, Clear Creek ISD
Honorable Mention – April Z. American Barn Owl, Barbara Bush ES, Conroe ISD
2025 I Am Texas Art & Writing Finalists
Abilene ISD
Abilene HS: Nolan S. – Art
Alief ISD
Alief Taylor HS: Tristen L., Erika P. – Art
Alvin ISD
Don Jeter ES: Nathan P. – Art
Jackie Caffey JH: Dillan B. – Writing
Amarillo ISD
Lorenzo de Zavala MS: Alisha S. – Art
Austin ISD
Liberal Arts and Science Academy: Jizhuo L. – Art
Archdiocese of Galveston – Houston
Holy Family Catholic School: Jude D. R. – Art
St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School: Sebastian L., Hannah S. – Writing
Calhoun County ISD
Seadrift MS: Phoenix G. – Writing
Carroll ISD
Durham Intermediate: Ethan H. – Letter Writing
Charter Schools
Harmony School of Advancement Houston: Elisha A. – Art
Clear Creek ISD
Whitcomb ES: Daniel H. – Art
Clear Springs HS: Katie C. – Art
Conroe ISD
Barbara Bush ES: Alexander Z., April Z. – Art
York JH: Duke G. – Art
Coppell ISD
Valley Ranch ES: Prithvi M.K. -Art
Coppell HS: Kohen L. – Writing
Dickinson ISD
Dickinson JH: Mercedes C-B. – Writing
Fort Bend ISD
Anne Sullivan ES: Olivia Z. – Art
Austin Parkway ES: Trinity C. – Art
Commonwealth ES: Samaira B., Myra M., Maxwell Y. – Art
Cornerstone ES: Anvita V. – Art
James Patterson ES: Avery C. – Letter Writing
Malala Yousafzai ES: Aaryahi C., Hugo H. – Letter Writing; Avish I.- Art
First Colony MS: Audrey H., Dominic R. – Art
Fort Settlement MS: Kyle L. – Writing; Hongyi L., Maira S., Cameron T. – Art
Quail Valley MS: Lily B., Ruben M. – Writing; Ayushi K. – Art
Ronald Thornton MS: Vismai K. – Art
Sartartia MS: Avery W. – Writing
Clements HS: Naomi L. – Art
Dulles HS: Chinhitha P. – Writing; Lance L. – Art
Elkins HS: Amy W. – Art
Ridge Point HS: Elah P., Morgan D., Aleeza Z. -Art
Frisco ISD
Isbell ES: Dhriti P., Meher P. – Art
Pink ES: Qien J. – Letter Writing
Galena Park ISD
Galena Park HS: Alejandra P. – Art
Galveston ISD
Burnet ES: Constanza M., Carla S. – Art
Parker ES: Wyatt J., Daxon P., Sabastian U., – Letter Writing
Garland ISD
Garland HS: Alexis S. – Writing
Gruver ISD
Gruver HS: Drew Lindse P. – Art
Hays CISD
Jack C. Hays HS: Kiyoshi S. – Writing
Home School
Emery K. – Letter Writing; Tatum A., Anjana A., Advika A., Jacob H., Alice K., McKenzie W. – Writing; Kenson B. – Art
Houston ISD
Pershing MS: Zinnia G. – Writing
Carnegie Vanguard HS: Iniya R.- Writing
Eastwood Academy HS: Emily S. – Writing
Humble ISD
Deerwood ES: Maisy C. – Art
Huntsville ISD
Mance Park MS: Cora J. -Writing
Huntsville HS: Aubrie J. – Writing
Katy ISD
Tom Wilson ES: Yijoon S. – Art
James & Sharon Tays JH: Apoorva K. – Art
McMeans JH: Anthony L. – Art
Jordan HS: Anaya M, Caitlyn G. – Art
Obra D. Thompkins HS: Tina C., Elisa S. – Art
Roosevelt Alexander ES: Reyansh M. – Art
Klein ISD
Klein HS: Gwendolyn C. – Writing
Klein Cain HS: Sariah V. – Art
Lamar CISD
Viola Gilmore Randle ES: Sanvi S. – Letter Writing
Randle HS: Grayson M. – Art
Leander ISD
Monta J. Akin ES: Jaasritha K. – Letter Writing
Rouse HS: Sanvi C. – Art
Lewisville ISD
McKamy MS: Yoonie K. – Art
Lubbock ISD
Hutchison MS: Kenneth G. – Art
Midland ISD
Emerson ES: Trinidad U. -Letter Writing; Nova R. – Art
Young Women’s Leadership Acadamy at Booker T. Washington: Ymani B. – Writing
Northside ISD
Dr. John M. Folks MS: Lydia I. – Art
Northwest ISD
Prairie View ES: Emma D. – Letter Writing
Palacios ISD
Palacios Junior Senior High: Eloise S. – Writing
Paris ISD
Paris HS: Hannah C. – Writing
Pasadena ISD
Milstead MS: Carolyn F. – Art
Plano ISD
Wyatt ES: Kaitlyn T. – Art
Private Schools
Awty International School: Zara S. – Writing
Greenhill School: Charles C. – Letter Writing
Hill Country Christian School: Richard C., Lucas W., Caroline Z. – Letter Writing; April R. – Art
Jeni Art: Alisha C., Jillian C., Nicole G., Amelia H., Isabella J., Ximin L., Anna W., Avery W., Enya W., Iris W., Joni X., Anqi Y. – Art
Kalathrishna Arts Centre: Gayatri A. – Art
Libertas Classical Academy: Noelle B., Ashleigh G., – Writing
Lutheran South Academy: Abigail B., Hawa L., Johanna M. – Art
Quba Academy: Maryam G., Alaa R. – Letter Writing; Elina A. – Art
Second Baptist School University-Model: Alyssa Z. – Art
St. John’s School: Brayden L. – Writing
The Christian School at Castle Hills: Madelyn T. – Art
Prosper ISD
Lilyana ES: Aira K. – Art
Round Rock ISD
Patsy Sommer ES: Doyoon K. – Letter Writing
Spring Branch ISD
Cornerstone Academy: Gabriella P. – Writing
Memorial HS: Arkana A., Zanli M., Chloe N., Rachael W. – Art
Tyler ISD
Three Lakes MS: Viviana L. – Art
Van ISD
Van JH: Landry D. – Writing
Waco ISD
Waco HS: Nevaeh D. – Writing