MIS RAICES Awards Scholarship
to TAMIU Student Martinez

MIS RAICES-NO BORDERS, ONE HEART awarded its fifth scholarship to Texas A&M International University senior art major Karen Martínez during the Senior Student Art Exhibit at TAMIU this month. Four previous scholarships have been awarded to local art students.

Martínez was selected to receive this award by Alma Haertlein, TAMIU associate professor of Art. MIS RAICES board members, Gayle Aker Rodríguez and Ninfa Cantú presented the award.

Artful Scholarship Karen Martínez, third from left, Texas A&M International University senior art major, was named the recipient of a $1000 scholarship from MIS RAICES-NO BORDERS, ONE HEART. Left to right are Gayle Rodríguez, Mis Raices member, TAMIU associate professor of art Alma Haertlein, Martínez and Ninfa Cantú of Mis Raices. Martínez plans to pursue an MFA after her TAMIU graduation.

MIS RAICES-NO BORDERS, ONE HEART began as an exhibit of 11 Laredo and Nuevo Laredo artists coming home to show their work to a local audience. The criteria for the selection of artists were: the artist was born and raised in Laredo or Nuevo Laredo; the artist was no longer living in Laredo or Nuevo Laredo; the artist had achieved national or international acclaim.

The intent was to encourage local art students to pursue their passions and continue their studies in art. All 11 artists originally contacted immediately agreed to participate and included George O. Jackson Jr., Josephine Sacabo, Thomas Glassford, Peter Glassford, Amado Peña, Cesar Martínez, Ana Laura de la Garza, Ethel Shipton, Max Pruneda, Ted Laredo, and Rosalinda Quintanilla.

Resulting was a non-profit organization with a mission to provide art scholarships to local students attending or planning to attend either TAMIU or Laredo Community College. The group also enlisted the help of each artist in the exhibit to donate one piece of art as part of a live auction during the event kick-off.

The Fernando A. Salinas Charitable Trust participated, donating funds to the scholarship account in an effort to allow more students to benefit.

For additional information on Mis Raices, call 725-4278, visit offices at 513 San Bernardo Avenue or e-mail galeria201@yahoo.com

For information about the fine and performing arts at TAMIU, call 326.ARTS, e-mail bleyendecker@tamiu.edu or visit tamiu.edu/coas/fpa

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu