The VAPA Spotlight Awards celebrate Transforming Lives Through the Arts across San Diego Unified School District. These awards highlight outcomes that are aligned with the goals of VAPA’s strategic plan, adopted by the Board of Education in 2016. Awardees are nominated through an open call by district VAPA stakeholders including teachers, parents, community arts partners, administrators, and students. Winners are selected by a committee that represents classroom teachers, VAPA leaders, the VAPA Advisory Council, and the VAPA Foundation.

The VAPA Foundation is sponsoring $250 scholarships for the ten student award recipients. Awardees will be recognized at the 2021 VAPA Spotlight Awards Presentation on Thursday, April 15 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm during an online virtual event this year.

This year’s VAPA Spotlight Award winners are:

• Rising Star Award

  • Jellaiysha Austin, Student, San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts

  • Nicklas Caldwell, Student, San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts

  • Hillari Hampton, Student, Point Loma High School

  • Geneva McCoy, Teacher, Morse High School

  • Erin Roberts, Teacher, Hancock Elementary and Golden Hill K-8

• Artistic Achievement Award

  • Maya Allum, Student, San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts

  • Alexis Horne, Student, Green Elementary School

• Artistic Growth Award

  • Ally Doyle-Uebel, Student, Creative Performing Media Arts Middle School

  • Gloria Park, Student, Serra High School

• Artistic Innovation Award

  • Patrick Garcia, Teacher, Scripps Ranch High School

  • Matthew Mulvaney, Teacher, Mira Mesa High School

  • Summer Williams, Teacher, Creative Performing Media Arts Middle School

  • TranscenDANCE, Community Arts Organization

• Creative Community Engagement Award

  • Annette Barcelona, Teacher, San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts

  • Joey Grzenia, Teacher, Sherman Elementary School

  • Maki Hagan, Parent, Crown Point Junior Music Academy

  • San Diego Symphony, Community Arts Organization

• Creative Leadership Award

  • Kate Chasin, Student, Serra High School

  • Asa Horpayak, Student, Serra High School

  • Stephanie Steiner, Teacher, San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts

  • Cheyann Wright, Student, Mira Mesa High School