The 35th annual Festival of the Cranes just wrapped up, and this year included the first-ever Socorro High School Festival of the Cranes Art Contest! From December 11 – 15, the vibrant artwork of Socorro High School students took center stage at the Socorro Convention Center. As part of this year’s Festival, these talented students have poured their creativity into several art projects, including drawings, paintings and scratchboards, showcasing their unique voices and artistic skills.
This year, three top prizes were awarded, and after seeing the beautiful talent on display, the judges decided to add three Honorable Mentions as well. In addition to the honor, art supplies will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners to support their continued artistic growth.
Choosing winners is never easy, especially when each piece is infused with personal expression. Art, after all, isn’t just about technique; it’s about the essence of the work—the way colors, lines, and forms come together to create something that speaks to the heart. The judges faced a tough task, but they were ultimately guided by the pieces that seemed to come alive in that special, elusive way.
We want to congratulate all the students who participated in this contest, and especially those who bravely submitted their work. It takes great courage to share something so personal with the world, and we are so proud of each of you!
The 2024 Winners Are:
1st Place:
Aderynn Billie, “Horned Owl” – scratchboard
2nd Place:
Sophoa Zhang, untitled – acrylic on canvas
3rd Place:
Alex Gutierrez, untitled – acrylic on canvas
Honorable Mentions, in no particular order:
Anastasha Trujillo, untitled – colored pencil on paper
Natrice Paz, untitled – acrylic on canvas
Kailyn Woods, untitled – acrylic on canvas
We hope that many of you were able to join us in celebrating the wonderful creativity of Socorro’s young artists while these pieces were on exhibit at the Socorro Convention Center during Festival of the Cranes. Whether you visited as an art lover, a supporter of local talent, or came by simply looking to be inspired, this exhibition was enjoyed by all in attendance.
A huge thank you to Jessica Padilla, Socorro High School Art Teacher, for guiding these students through their artistic journeys and helping them present their work so beautifully. Special thanks also goes to Janet Annelli, Board Member of Friends of Bosque del Apache, for her leadership and dedication to making this project a reality.