The Houston Independent School District announced the winners of the district’s 2019 holiday greeting card competition on Friday, featuring creative student artwork highlighting family holiday traditions, seasonal decorations, and classic holiday songs.

“I want to thank all the students who participated for sharing and opening up your world to us,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said during the annual unveiling ceremony. “I hope you’ve enjoyed this experience, and I hope we will be able to provide you additional experiences throughout your school career.”

The winners – fifth-grader Edward Lopez of Neff Elementary School, eighth-grader Josiah Rajesh of Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan, and senior Mariangela Rodriguez of Lamar High School – were among 17 finalists from elementary, middle, and high schools. All finalists received a boxed set of their holiday cards. Their holiday cards also will be available for purchase and on display at the HISD administration building.

“It is through the development of art that students learn to see their world in different colors, cultures and perspectives,” Wenden Sanders, HISD Director of Fine Arts, said. “They are able to express what they feel in different ways and we appreciate our young artists for their efforts.”

Each year, the district sends out hundreds of holiday greeting cards to principals, board members, legislators, local leaders, parent groups and community partners. Since 2003, these cards have featured the artwork of HISD students. The competition, organized by the HISD Strategic Partnerships Department, received 107 student submissions, the most submission ever received.

“With district’s recent fine arts expansion, we’ve had holiday card submissions from schools we’ve never had entries from,” HISD Secondary Visual Arts Curriculum Specialist Chandel Bonner-Hancock said. “It is wonderful because they have been able to showcase the hard work of their talented students.”