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Angleton High artist earns Capitol honor
Published May 13, 2008
ANGLETON — Baylea Wagener worked for more than a year on a piece of art to enter in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s art competition.
When the Angleton High School senior’s colored-pencil drawing of a woman atop a horse wasn’t chosen by judges as one of 50 pieces to be auctioned in March, she was disappointed. But on Thursday, the 18-year-old got a surprise of a lifetime.
Judges for the Congressional Art Competition chose Wagener’s piece as the winner in the U.S. House district of Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson. The artwork will be on display for one year in the basement of the Capitol in Washington.
“I really don’t know what to say,” Wagener said. “It’s great.”
Judges from Brazoria and Matagorda counties chose Wagener’s artwork out of more than 150 entries, said Rachel Mills, a press secretary for Paul.
“Ron Paul is continually impressed by the talent of the high school students in his congressional district,” Mills said.
Wagener is the first Angleton ISD student to have his or her art chosen in the 27 years of the competition.
“This is an amazing accomplishment and the district is very proud of Baylea,” district spokeswoman HannaChalmers said. “We have a remarkable art program at Angleton ISD and Baylea represents that.
“She is a well-rounded, extremely talented individual who clearly shines in her artistic ability, and she has a bright future,” Chalmers said.
Wagener’s artwork has been on display at the Bay City Art League building in Bay City, Mills said, and officials will take it to Washington today. It will be on display at the Capitol starting June 25.
Wagener said she’s been creating art all her life. She plans to study psychology and fine arts at Central Arkansas University in the fall.
She is attending the school on a softball scholarship. Wagener has been a pitcher on the Ladycats softball team all four years of school, but the sport is not her future.
“Softball got me to college, but it will be the end after that,” she said. “I want to do art therapy after college.”
Wagener credited softball as helping expand her art skills.
“It teaches discipline,” she said. “Softball helps me stay focused on art.”
She also said her art teacher, Eszter Weress, helped her pursue goals.
“She always helped,” Wagener said. “She really guides more than she instructs. She never tells us to do this and this.
“She helps us blaze our own trail,” Wagener said.
Nathaniel Lukefahr is a reporter for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 237-0151.
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HONORABLE MENTION
Angleton High School senior Baylea Wagener won the 2008 Congressional Art Contest for the 14th Congressional District. Honorable mentions went to:
• Courtney Howes, Angleton High School
• Felicia Leyva, Angleton High School
• Chinedu Onochie, Clear Springs High School
• Halley Stulb, Clear Springs High School
• Kelley Rytlewski, Clear Creek High School
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