Montwood High School 10th grader Jacqueline Vargas got a jumpstart on a future career as an artist at the 2024 Sun City Portfolio Day on Jan. 18.
The college fair hosted at El Paso Community College’s Administrative Services Center welcomed 400 high school students from across the El Paso region, including dozens of Socorro Independent School District students.
Aspiring artists like Vargas had the opportunity to meet and present their art portfolios online and in person to 20 colleges and universities nationwide.
Vargas shared her artwork, including a colorful self-portrait that took her 50 hours to draw, with representatives from New Mexico State University, the University of Texas at El Paso and Texas Tech University.
“I've liked art since I was little,” said Vargas, one of two Socorro ISD high school students whose artwork was recently selected to be displayed at the Bullock Texas State History Museum during Youth Art Month in March.
"I wanted to come here today and see what each college has to offer so that my senior year, I get an idea of exactly what I want to do," she added.
Sponsored by EPCC, Sun City Portfolio Day is a collaborative effort between Socorro, El Paso and Ysleta school districts. The event promotes artistic talent in the region, allowing high school and EPCC students to showcase their artwork to potential colleges and universities in one place without having to travel outside El Paso.
Some of the country’s most prestigious art schools, such as Parsons School of Design in New York and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, were part of the event.
Attendees also participated in workshops to create their own websites and printmaking demonstrations by EPCC instructors. There were also creative working spaces for students.
"This could be a pivotal point in these kids' lives," said SISD Assistant Director of Fine Arts Candace Printz, "to either get scholarships, decide on a career path, or maybe move and then come back and bring what they learned."
Gilbert Barrera, who teaches Art I and II at Pebble Hills High School, said Sun City Portfolio Day was an opportunity for his art students, such as Ivy Montelongo, to learn what to expect from potential colleges.
"I think this is a great opportunity for them to come display their art to art schools and just to talk to them and get their feet a little bit wet," Barrera said.
Montelongo, a senior at Pebble Hills, said her art teachers inspired her to become an art teacher someday at the high school. But first, she needed to get into college. She said the conference allowed her to meet with representatives from her top choice, Texas Tech University, because, otherwise, she could not afford to travel to Lubbock to visit the campus. "I think it's great," Montelongo said, referring to the event. “It's a good opportunity for people who are trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives and get good feedback from colleges. I thank SISD for giving us this opportunity to do this."