May 13, 2026 - Comal ISD hosted the final of four student art shows of the 2025-2026 school year on Monday, May 11, at its Support Services building in New Braunfels. Each show features more than 100 pieces of art created by students from various campuses.
The final show highlighted work from eight campuses in the Pieper High School feeder pattern including Indian Springs Elementary, Kinder Ranch Elementary, Specht Elementary, Timberwood Park Elementary, Bulverde Middle School, Pieper Ranch Middle, PHS and Memorial Early College High School.
The invitation-only art-gallery-style show featured artwork created by students in kindergarten 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.
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. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding talent and creativity.
The artists who received the Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art at the spring show are listed here.
- Brooklyn Blake, 5th grade, Kinder Ranch Elementary, for “Winter Jollies at the Ice Rink”
- Marley Belka, 6th grade, Bulverde Middle School, for “Gerry”
- Olivia Evans, 11th grade, Pieper High School, for her portrait she created with acrylic paint.
The show featured sketches, watercolor, oil pastels, mixed media, charcoal and more.
For Blake, whose snowy art piece won the Superintendent’s Excellence Award for elementary, all art is beautiful.
“I think art tells a story,” Blake says. “You can show art in different ways, and all of them are beautiful.”
She enjoyed making her beautiful winter scene that featured two girls ice skating. Blake’s piece had added dimension with the use of clay for the girls’ faces and skates and yarn for their hair.
The artwork that won the Superintendent’s Award for middle school featured form core and paint pens with a play on positive and negative space. Belka, the artist, didn’t set out to create a bird with bright patterns and texture, but she was proud of the finished product.
The high school artists at the show truly showed off their skills and pushed themselves to create amazing work.
Artist Kylie Silver, an 11th-grade student at Memorial Early College High School, challenged herself to use charcoal and pastels, creating an Italian scene featuring mountains in the distance.
“I’ve always liked to create and show off my creations,” says Silver. “Each year, I get a little better and gain more confidence. I like experimenting with new techniques.”
Fellow MECHS artist Anthony Romero, a ninth-grade student, enjoys experimenting as well. His art piece at the show was a pair of jeans which he painted and titled, “Guarded Beauty.” The vines running down the jeans hide red roses trying to peek out. Romero explains that the piece represents the importance of digging deep to get to know others, to go beyond what is seen on the surface.
The district has been named a District of Distinction by the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) for seven years in a row.
List of students featured in the final art show.
Elementary Campuses
Indian Springs Elementary School. Art teacher Amy Groesbeck. Students: Brady Cavarra, 3; Leighton Davidson, 3; Jolene Davis, 3; Easton Flinders, 5; Lincoln Gill, 5; Evelyn Herrera, 5; Hazle Johansen, 4; Shanyla Marshall, 1; Evelyn Scott, 4; and Cade Whisenhunt, K.
Kinder Ranch Elementary School. Art teacher Juanita Gatrelle. Students: Zoe Alonso, 4; Lily Babb, 5; Brooklyn Blake, 5; Madeline Flores, 5; Kimber Lee, K; Michael Mosher, 3; Madelyn Navarro, 2; Mackayla Perkins, 4; Oliver Vouthy, 5; and Olivia Witmer, 5.
Specht Elementary School. Art teacher Anna Wood. Students: Janna Burris, 4; Ricardo Cardenas, 5; Anastasia DeSilvester, 1; Penelope Drake; Emma Enriquez, 1; Ruth Gagné, 1; Scarlett G., 2; Piper LeRoy, 3; John Smith, 3; and Asher Toalso, 5.
Timberwood Park Elementary School. Art teacher Jill Corona. Students: Molly Bachmeyer, 2; Tison Carmack, 5; Autumn Cook, K; Eli Hill, 3; Adeline Hull, K; Levi Knighten, 3; Riley McCormack, 5; Ellie Moloney, 4; Isla Pippin, 4; and Makena Shipkey, 5.
Middle School Campuses
Bulverde Middle School. Art teachers: Casi Corbin and Staci Teague. Students: Marley Belka, 6; Autumn Boone, 6; Molly Cruz, 8; Charlotte F., 8; Charley Getic, 8; Vivian Lee, 7; Lennox Longoria, 7; Mackenzie Lukehart, 6; Regina Martinez Torres, 7; Omar Perez-Perez, 8; Skylar Spanninga, 6; and Gunnar Trejo, 6.
Pieper Ranch Middle School. Art teachers: Edita Ellison, Mindy Randolph and Kourtney Reffell. Students: Morgan Carpenter, 8; Lucas Conley, 8; Alyssandra Esqueda, 8; Beau Finger, 6; Kinsley Giuca, 8; A.C., 8; Nathan Osborne, 7; Ali Perez, 7; Sarah Phillips, 7; and Rodrick Barnes, 8.
High School Campuses
Memorial Early College High School. Art teachers: Ashley Buehler and Lynn Odom. Students: Juan Acevedo Rivas, 9; Ty Cameron, 9; Luke Davis, 11; Jaylene Klepac, 11; Ashton Land, 12; William Maier, 10; Z.M., 11; Bri Minnick, 11; Lucy Peters, 12; Anthony Romero, 9; Kylie Silver, 11; Stone Stanford, 11; Luna Vazquez, 12; Gray Yates, 10; and Chloe Ybarrondo, 9.
Pieper High School. Art teachers: Meagan Ramsey and Jennifer Snellings. Students: Yasmin Almanza Rivera, 11; B.A., 9; Braelyn Brown, 11; Christian Bueno, 10; Nataly Cassani, 11; Dylan Drury, 9; Olivia Evans, 11; Harper Gillespie, 9; Kinsley Gunn, 11; Isobel "Danny" Hush, 11; R.J., 11; Madison Kipp, 11; C.M., 11; Adrianna Matti, 10; Horacio Morales Flores, 9; Zoe Olfers, 10; Rafael Orozco, 11; Tegan Rios, 10; Zara Rodriguez, 9; Makayla Rogan, 10; Silas Sanchez, 11; Genevieve Sitzman, 9; Hosea Toalson, 10; Kimber Wynn, 10; and Ryann Zatopek, 9.
Photos available at Comal ISD Final Art Show May 11, 2026.
Photo description
-Brooklyn Blake, a fifth-grade student from Kinder Ranch Elementary School, received the Superintendent’s Excellence Award of Art for elementary at the May 11 art show.
-Marley Belka, a sixth-grade student from Bulverde Middle School, received the Superintendent’s Excellence Award of Art for middle school at the May 11 art show.
-A charcoal and pastel piece by Kylie Silver, an 11th-grade student from Memorial Early College High School, was selected for the final districtwide art show on May 11.
-Student artist Anthony Romero from Memorial Early College High School showed off his artwork which was selected for the final districtwide art show on May 11.
-Winning elementary artwork by Brooklyn Blake.
-Winning middle school artwork by Marley Belka.
-Winning high school artwork by Olivia Evans.
-Artists from Indian Springs Elementary School
-Artists from Indian Kinder Ranch Elementary School
-Artists from Specht Elementary School
-Artists from Timberwood Park Elementary School
-Artists from Bulverde Middle School
-Artists from Pieper Ranch Middle School
-Artists from Memorial Early College High School
-Artists from Pieper High School