Middletown High School South has always been home to some of the nation’s finest teen artists, and now we have been given a chance to prove it yet again ! This year, the MHSS art department participated in the nationwide Van’s Custom Culture contest. The students were given four pairs of Vans shoes to customize using their artistic skills. The four “themes” were music, art, action-sports, and “local flavor”. The top five finalists will make a special apperiance in New York City for a final event, during which the winner will be selected. The winning school will receive a $50,000 prize for their art program. The shoes they designed will also be produced and sold in Vans’ retail stores. The four runner up schools will also receive monetary prizes for their art departments. Out of  the 50,000 competing schools across the nation, South has been chosen as one of the finalists. Our competing artists were handpicked by the art teachers for their skill and dedication.   Seniors Carissa Gray, Taylor Franzreb, Kate Spence, and Will Stallmeyer were amoung the outstanding students selected to be a part of this contest, and they all have preformed remarkably. The hard work of our art teachers and students has not gone unnoticed.As one of the main artists, senior Jacqueline Marron, says.“We have all worked so hard on this project. When we first heard that we had made it to the final round, we were so excited and happy. It would be a dream come true to have our artwork be recognized across the nation. I’m so proud of everyone and what we’ve all accomplished. All our efforts really paid off.” Want to help out your school? Go to www.vans.com/customsculture/and vote for South, which is listed under the “Northeast” section. One vote per electronic device is permitted, so use your laptops, your siblings’ laptops, and your smartphone! Voting ends May 13th. Congratulations MHSS artists! The primary artist for the Zombie shoes is Jesse Price, who is a freshman and in Art I. The primary artist for the Paddle boarding shoes is Carissa Gray, who is a senior and in AP Art. The primary artist for the Superstorm Sandy shoes is Taylor Franzreb, who is a senior and in AP Art. The primary artists for the Jazz Shoes are Meghan Heidelberg and Jacqueline Marron, both seniors in AP Art.