Thanks-Giving Square Foundation Celebrates Expressions Of Gratitude Winning Students At The Nasher Sculpture Center

There were a heck of a lot of students at the Nasher Sculpture Center on Friday, January 23, and with good cause. Here’s a report from the field on how the Thanks-Giving Square folks created a true occasion of gratitude:

“This past fall, more than 600 students from kindergarten through 12th grade submitted their entries for the 10th annual Expressions of Gratitude Arts Competition. On Friday, January 23, 2015, the students received awards during a ceremony hosted by the Nasher Sculpture Center. The winners were chosen based on how poignantly they expressed their gratitude for the Golden Rule through art, essay and dance. Judges from major museums, publications, educational institutions, the public library, dance companies, as well as individual artists, made the selections.

Chris Slaughter and Anita Martinez*

“WFAA-Chanel 8 Senior Reporter Demond Fernandez served as this year’s emcee. Dallas Arts District Executive Director Catherine Cuellar and David Stewart, son of The Thanks-Giving Foundation Co-Founder Peter Stewart, announced the winners. Elders from the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints distributed the awards. Shortly after the awards were presented, Chris Slaughter, president of The Thanks-Giving Foundation, gave brief remarks on the Competition, reminding the audience of the key importance of expressing gratitude. Ballet Folklorico Founder and 2014 Expressions of Gratitude Judge Anita Martinez, was front and center for the awards, proudly applauding each student as they came up to receive their certificate.

“Students won cash awards for themselves and double the amount for their teachers or schools to purchase classroom supplies. The 2014 Expressions first place student winners received $100 cash and their teachers received $200 for classroom supplies, second place student winners received $50 cash and their teachers received $100 toward classroom supplies, and third place student winners received $25 cash and their teachers received $50 for classroom supplies. Winning entries are exhibited at Thanks-Giving Square during the spring and winter holiday season and then will travel to other venues.

2014 Expressions of Gratitude Student Winners*

Expressions of Gratitude 2014 Art Winners include:

Moxie McGee*

K-1:

• 1^st – Victoria Canchola, Beaver Technology Center for Math and Science (Garland ISD)
• 2^nd – Harshil Goyal, Beaver Technology Center for Math and Science (Garland ISD)
• 3^rd – Moxie McGee, Whitney M. Young Jr. Elementary (Dallas ISD)

2-3:

• 1^st – Alina Delgado, Whitney M. Young Jr. Elementary (Dallas ISD)
• 2^nd – Serene Nijem, The Olive Tree Montessori Academy (Arlington)
• 3^rd – Iman Hirani, Imagine International Academy of North Texas (McKinney)

  Iman Hirani*

4-5

• 1^st – Nabia Siddique, IANT Quranic Academy (Richardson)
• 2^nd – Alondra Rosas, Sidney Lanier Expressive Arts Vanguard (Dallas ISD)
• 3^rd – Ava Raymond, Beaver Technology Center for Math and Science (Garland ISD)

6-8

• 1^st – Anissa MacKay, IANT Quranic Academy (Richardson)
• 2^nd – Aja Tani, Kapolei Middle School (Leeward), Kapolei, HI
• 3^rd – Emma Reyna, W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy (Dallas ISD)

9-10

• 1^st – Yaumiri Subiza, North Dallas High School (Dallas ISD)
• 2^nd – Sophie Hanson, Sunnyvale High School (Sunnyvale ISD)
• 3^rd – Jennifer Lopez, North Dallas High School (Dallas ISD)

11-12

• 1^st – Miriam Montenegro, Grand Prairie High School (Grand Prairie ISD)
• 2^nd – Osvaldo Rosas, Grand Prairie High School (Grand Prairie ISD)
• 3^rd – Marcos Tirado, Grand Prairie High School (Grand Prairie ISD)

Serene Nijem*

Expressions of Gratitude 2014 Essay Winners include:

K-1:

• 1^st – Tanya Mandyam, Deer Canyon Elementary (POWAY Unified),San Diego

2-3

• 1^st – Serene Nijem, The Olive Tree Montessori Academy (Arlington)
• 2^nd – Iman Hirani, Imagine International Academy of North Texas (McKinney)
• 3^rd – Jonathan Zabolio, The Highlands School (Dallas Diocese)

4-5

• 1^st – Dasha Ramey, Lakehill Preparatory (Dallas)
• 2^nd – Luis Taylor, The Highlands School (Dallas Diocese)
• 3^rd – Cullen McCaleb, Lakehill Preparatory (Dallas)

6-8

• 1^st – Emily Rhodes, Watauga Middle School (Birdville ISD)
• 2^nd – Bukenya Francis, Collective Heart Academy (Luweero), Uganda
• 3^rd – Katelynn M. Rife, Morton Magnet (Omaha Public Schools)

9-10

• 1^st – Carly Weisberg, Episcopal School of Dallas (Dallas)
• 2^nd – Varshini Suresh, Coppell High School (Coppell ISD)
• 3^rd – Dharshini Suresh, Coppell High School (Coppell ISD)

Carly Weisberg and Brent Weisberg*

11-12

• 1^st – Nahomi Gaytan, Lassiter Early College High School (Dallas ISD)
• 2^nd – Brent Weisberg, St. Mark’s School of Texas (Dallas)
• 3^rd – Maria Perez, Lassiter Early College High School (Dallas ISD)

Expressions of Gratitude 2014 Dance Winners Include:

K-5

• 1^st – Mary Grace Altizer, Carolyn Langford, Finley Nelson and Avery Reich, Episcopal School of Dallas (Dallas)

6-8

• From the left: Jasmine Clayton, Charlotte Crawford, Jasmine Sargent, Skye Acosta, Jennifer Ascencio and Kadriona Wilson*

  1^st – Skye Acosta, Jennifer Ascencio, Jasmine Clayton, Charlotte Crawford and Kadriona Wilson, Ann Richards Middle School (Dallas ISD)

9-12

• 1^st – Juliana Bella Cortez, Ballet Folklorico (Dallas)

* Photo credit: Erin Brown