Legacy High School senior Mariah Lacovone won first place in the statewide Crime Stoppers Art Contest. As part of her reward, her artwork will be showcased at the Texas Crime Stoppers office in the State Capitol in Austin.
Lacovone used colored pencils to craft her award-winning drawing, which depicts elements such as police officers, the Crime Stoppers app, and the iconic West Texas sunset.
According to a release from Midland Independent School District (MISD), her design had previously won the top spot in the Midland Crime Stoppers art contest last spring, setting the stage for her win at the Texas Campus Crime Stoppers Conference. The victory came with a $400 cash prize, which Lacovone said she used to invest in a camera to further her artistic endeavors.
"I was thrilled and honestly surprised when I found out that my artwork had been selected," said Lacovone in the release. "Art has always been my passion, and I'm excited about what's next."
In recognition of her achievement, Lacovone was acknowledged by the Midland Crime Stoppers at its monthly meeting.
Despite having legal blindness in one eye, Lacovone demonstrates the ability to produce award-winning artwork, saying that she has never allowed this obstacle to hinder her pursuit of her dreams.
Lacovone is a participant in the Health Sciences pathway offered through MISD’s Career and Technical Education program. Her future plans include enrolling at Midland College in the fall and eventually transfer to a university for pre-med studies to become an anesthesiologist. Lacovone also intends to explore art studies.