Pasadena ISD visual art students Jesus Gudino and Naomi Alba took top state honors recently at the Center for Safe Communities and Schools seventh annual anti-gang poster contest at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Gudino received first place over 400 entries in the junior division at the state competition, receiving a cash award of $500. Alba earned the third place award of $150.

As the first place winner in his division, Gudino was awarded his prize at the Texas Gang Investigators Association annual training conference in Austin in June.

“I am very proud of their talents and dedication to the visual arts,” said Southmore Intermediate School’s art teacher Victor Raygoza. “I look forward to their continued progress over the next four years of their high school careers.”

The center partners with the Texas School Safety Center and the Texas Gang Investigators Association every year for the contest, which features a junior division (grades 6-8) and a senior division (grades 9-12).