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Poster earns local student four years of college

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  • Originally published July 21, 2008 at 11:05 a.m., updated July 21, 2008 at 11:05 a.m.

A picture of an old man tuning his guitar earned a young artist four years of college tuition.

Matthew Durham, 13, won first place in the Hispanic Heritage Poster Contest organized by the Spanish Speaking Initiative committee and the Letting Education Achieve Dreams (LEAD) program at the University of Houston-Victoria. The prize earned him two years of tuition from both The Victoria College and UHV.

The judges, members of the Club Sembradores de Amistad de Victoria, praised his work, “El Compositor.”

“It was the details,” judge Tony Garza said. “The face looked so real with the wrinkles. They were actually there.”

He wasn’t the only one to notice.

“The details and originality of it just caught our attention,” President Ray Morales said.

Durham was unavailable to comment because he was away at Boy Scout.

“I’m so excited. I’m so proud,” said Cindy Durham, mother of the Howell Middle School student. “I don’t know where he gets it from, certainly not me.”

The poster will be used in promotional efforts for Hispanic Heritage Month in September. The choice wasn’t easy given the quality of the works entered by 34 art students from Howell and Crain middle schools.

“So much originality! So much talent!” Morales exclaimed.

However, the public will have to wait until a Sept. 16 reception to find out who will win the other prizes.

The second-place winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Minority Business Council, and the third-place winner will receive a $500 scholarship. The awards may be used at either UHV or VC. All the participants will be recognized at the reception.

LEAD helps first-generation college students through the process of entering and succeeding in college. One of its specific tasks is to increase Hispanic college enrollment to better reflect the demographics of the region.

Club Sembradores de Amistad de Victoria, or “The Club of the Sowers of Friendship,” raises scholarship funds each year for The Victoria College students through an annual raffle, gala and other efforts. Last year, it established a $10,000 endowment to which it added $5,000 this year.



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