Junior VASE Competition
Middle School students recognized for artistic excellence
Middle School students from The John Cooper School recently earned top scores at the 2025 Junior Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE), a statewide program that recognizes outstanding artwork by middle school students. Twenty-seven students submitted original pieces and were awarded high marks for their creativity, technique, and artistic vision, four of whom received highest honors.
Junior VASE, organized by the Texas Art Education Association, encourages young artists to develop their skills and share their work in a meaningful way. The success of Cooper’s students reflects the School’s mission to create a learning environment where students are inspired to excel in all areas—including the arts.
Four Cooper Dragons received the Platinum Award, the highest honor given to students whose artwork demonstrates exceptional creativity, technical skill, and strong personal voice. It represents outstanding achievement among top-rated pieces and is awarded to a select few from thousands of entries across the state.
“We want students to stay curious, take creative risks, and express themselves—and that’s exactly what they did,” said Mr. Joel Cook, Middle School Visual Arts teacher. “It’s exciting to see their work recognized, but even more exciting to see their confidence grow through the process.”
The Cooper community celebrates this achievement as a powerful example of how the arts enrich student learning and support the development of creative, thoughtful, and well-rounded individuals:
6th Grade (‘31)
- Maggie Lalani, Platinum
- Reese Lowrance
- Lylah McGovern, Platinum
- Blythe Memmott
- Elle Poelma, Platinum
- Bosco Quintana
- Nat Santos Rattia
- Lucy Stafford
- Sheri Xi
- Florence Zhang
7th Grade (‘30)
- Amelia Burns
- Emma Hedden
- Erik Lozano Bodensteiner
- Maddie Mervin
- Riley Moore
- Rohan Srinivas
- Sloane Tinsley
- Zetta Ure
- Claire Walker
8th Grade (‘29)
- Carolina Angulo
- Maddie Brents, Platinum
- Mckenzie Hoffman
- Arohi Mishra
- Archer Pearce
- Nicky Ronstadt
- Aliza Wilson
- Esti Winston
The John Cooper School
From Curiosity to Wisdom
The John Cooper School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory day school. Our mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
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