January 16, 2026 - Comal ISD hosted the second of four student art shows of the 2025-2026 school year on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at its Support Services building in New Braunfels. Each show will feature more than 100 pieces of art created by students from various campuses.
The winter show highlighted work from 10 campuses in the Canyon High School feeder pattern including Clear Spring Elementary, Farias-Spitzer Elementary, Freiheit Elementary, Goodwin Frazier Elementary, Hoffmann Lane Elementary, Mayfair Elementary, Oak Creek Elementary, Canyon Middle, Church Hill Middle and CHS.
The invitation-only art-gallery-style show featured artwork created by students in kinder through 12th grades, selected by campus art teachers. Each artist was awarded a medal as the teachers explained the different pieces. Parents and family members were on hand to take photos and view the work.
For the second year, a highlight of the show was the announcement of the Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art, which is hand selected by Superintendent Dr. John E. Chapman III.
“We are excited to continue the Superintendent's Excellence Award for Art this year,” said Gary Cooper, Comal ISD’s director of fine arts. “This prestigious award recognizes outstanding talent and creativity.”
The artists to receive the Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art at the Winter show are listed here.
- Gabrielle Oliva, 3rd grade, Farias-Spitzer Elementary, for “My Fury Friend”
- Noa Lettinga, 8th grade, Canyon Middle School, for “Textured Seal”
- Avah Munoz, 11th grade, Canyon High School, for “Raccoon”
The show featured sketches, watercolor, oil pastels, sculptures and more. Lettinga was surprised that her scratchboard of a seal was selected as the middle school Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art winner.
“I really like seals, and I like this art style,” says Lettinga, who has been drawing and painting since she was young. “With art, you can make whatever you want. It makes me happy to see my work on the page.”
Lettinga plans to continue to take art in high school, hoping to challenge herself with pottery and pastels.
Another animal design was selected as the winner in the high school category, featuring a raccoon created with watercolor and henna. The artist, Munoz, was nervous and excited about the honor.
“When I draw, I find peace,” says Munoz, who chose to feature a raccoon because raccoons are often overlooked. “It calms me down and helps me put emotion and personality on paper.”
The piece began with a photograph which she then drew onto grid paper before transferring to watercolor. Munoz hopes to incorporate her interest in art with her future career possibly in advertising or as a book illustrator.
Comal ISD, which has been named a District of Distinction by the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) for seven years in a row, plans to host two additional art shows this school year in March and May.
List of students featured in the winter art show
Elementary Campuses
Clear Spring Elementary School. Art teacher Gina Kustelski. Artists: Hadasa Avila, 5; Keyli Diaz, 5; Alberto Garza Saucedo, 2; Kynnleigh Knapek, 2; Audrianna Munkirs, 2; Gael Ruiz Morales, 4; Martin Sanchez, 1; Hudson Scott, 3; Natalie Tipps, 5; and Max Ybarra, 4.
Freiheit Elementary School. Art teacher Courtney Grundei. Artists: Olivia Barker, 2; Ava Barnett, 2; Mia Euresti, 4; Isaac Fermin, 3; Peyton Gibbs, 5; Paisley Hernandez, 1; Eric Le, 3; Emily Pham, 1; Micah Pyeatt, 4; and Florence Watts, 5.
Farias-Spitzer Elementary School. Art teacher Daniele Parker. Artists: Izabelle Ali, 2; Paisleigh Goebel, 5; Baylor Leonard, 4; Sloane Leonard, 5; Jeremiah Love, 1; Keira Martin, 4; Kynlee Meckel, 4; Gabrielle Oliva, 3; Eden Russell, 2; and Brynlie Rene Simons, 1.
Goodwin Frazier Elementary School. Art teacher Kerstan Copeland. Artists: Zachariah Aguirre, 5; Elaina Armstrong, 5; Sofia Fallert, 5; Luther Goodsell, 5; Starlet Kohles, 5; Evalynn Leal, 5; Camryn McNamee, 5; River Neumann, 3; Acesin Ornelaz, 3; and David Weaver, 1.
Hoffmann Lane Elementary School. Art teacher Adam Voglewede. Artists: Juan Delgado Avila, 4; Camp Dyer, 1; Paige Hartman, K; Kylan McKinley, 5; Bailey Reinarz, 4; Ainsley Seglem, 5; Kayden Wiatrek, 5; Addison Winegar, K; Ivy Woodrome, 3; and Laurel Ziegler, 5.
Mayfair Elementary School. Art teacher Emma Thibodeaux. Artists: Everett Baker, 2; Charnel Harlow, 5; Trevor Harmon, 5; Ethan Leyva, K; Henry Morris, 3; Kaylee Morris, 4; Ivy Murillo, 1; Jax Tussey, 4; Joseluis Villegas, 2; and Josallyn Villegas, 3.
Oak Creek Elementary School. Art teacher Walter Menchaca. Artists: Scarlett Cuellar-Medina, 1; Finley Feland, 2; Aurora Flores, 5; Liam Harari, 1; Elizabeth Harari, 3; Caceleigh Morgan, 5; Jenna Padovano, 4; Lais Patelli-Canovas, 4; Ivy Peace, 5; and Delilah Zepeda, 4.
Middle Schools
Canyon Middle School. Art teachers: Jared Durham, Emily Lyons and Donna Mial-Gary. Artists: Isabelle Adames, 6; Connor Burger, 6; Evelyn Costell, 6; Andi F, 6; Skylar Garcia, 8; Devanny Garza, 8; Angela Gonzalez-Salazar, 8; Noa Lettinga, 8; Fenris Perez, 7; Alasey Springer, 8; Paxton Zahn, 7; and Andrea Zambrano, 7.
Church Hill Middle School. Art teachers: Kendra Ferrell and Carrie Wenner. Artists: Lyla Brooke, 7; Thalia Bullain Suarez, 7; Cannon Campbell, 6; Diana Gonzalez-Garcia, 8; Vivian Horvath, 8; Cade Kinnan, 7; Avery Kubenka, 7; Kayla McNamee, 8; Stella Stephenson, 8; and Lily Yeates, 6.
High School
Canyon High School. Art teachers: Catherine Deatherage, Kendyl Estrada, Kristopher Jorgensen and Holly Spandau. Artists: Zabdy Alvarado Acosta, 9; Sky Brown, 12; Ilyana Brown, 12; Anita Brumfield, 10; Ivan Campos, 12; Lucian Cangialosi, 9; Serenity Carpenter, 9; Adelyn Durbin, 9; Nathaniel Floria, 11; Sabrina Fortenberry, 11; Desiray Gonzales, 10; Fabian Gotay Gonzalez, 10; Jade Hanley, 10; Violet Henderson, 12; Alice Hendrix, 11; Isaac Hernandez, 11; Makaylin Jackson, 11; Mira Johnson, 10; Marie Lessmann, 11; Lorelei Limas, 11; Anthony Lopez, 9; Brenda Luna, 10; Michelle Marshall, 9; Madilyn Meek, 12; Avah Munoz, 11; Lisseth Reyes Zelaya, 10; Mariah Rivera, 12; Morgan Rodriguez, 10; Naomi Sanchez, 10; Paisley Shirley, 10; Karolina Smejkalova, 11; Grant Spence, 12; Danielle Stanford, 10; Nevaeh Stanley, 10; Evan Stanley, 12; Vanessa Varela, 11; Lance Walker, 12; Alexis Wilson, 11; and Maddix Zahn, 9.
Photo Descriptions
-Noa Lettinga, an eighth-grade student at Canyon Middle School, received the middle school Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art during the Comal ISD Winter Art Show on Jan. 13.
-Avah Munoz, an 11th-grade student at Canyon High School, received the high school Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art during the Comal ISD Winter Art Show on Jan. 13.
-Artists from Clear Spring Elementary.
-Artists from Freiheit Elementary.
-Artists from Farias-Spitzer Elementary.
-Artists from Goodwin Frazier Elementary.
-Artists from Hoffmann Lane Elementary.
-Artists from Mayfair Elementary.
-Artists from Oak Creek Elementary.
-Artists from Canyon Middle.
-Artists from Church Hill Middle.
-Artists from Canyon High.
-The Superintendent's Excellence Award for Art honoree for elementary, titled "My Fury Friend," by Gabrielle Oliva from Farias-Spitzer Elementary.
-Comal ISD Winter Art Show photo album.