Selected by a committee from the Art Education Department, the Fall 2026 recipients are Sandy Barajas, Charlotte Burns, Christina Ramirez, Llumine Shin, Ailynn Venzor and Belle Wright.
 

Sandy Barajas is facing forward and smiling.Sandy Barajas

Dallas native Sandy Barajas is a retired Dallas Independent School District substitute teacher studying art education at UNT CVAD. Early childhood training and eight years of classroom experience have prepared Barajas to lead an art classroom. Outside the classroom, Barajas enjoys knitting, painting, crafting and traveling and has three teenage daughters and a spouse of 28 years.
 

Charlotte Burns is facing forward and smiling.Charlotte Burns

Charlotte Burns is entering the final semester of study at UNT. Clinical practice will provide an opportunity to apply skills developed throughout the art education program while gaining new experience through student teaching.
 

Christina Ramirez is facing forward.Christina Ramirez

Christina Ramirez is a Dallas-based multimedia artist and UNT CVAD Master of Arts candidate. Ramirez studied theater and visual arts at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas before earning a B.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2011.
 
 

Llumine ShinLlumine Shin

Llumine Shin learned about the award and connected with its emphasis on individual growth and dedication. Shin’s experience at UNT reflects progress, resilience and academic excellence. The award will ease financial pressures during clinical training, allowing Shin to focus on refining classroom practices and preparing to become an effective art educator.
 

Ailynn VenzorAilynn Venzor

UNT senior Ailynn Venzor is entering the final semester of the CVAD Art Education program as a student teacher. Experiences judging the Visual Art Scholastic Event, commonly known as VASE, and working as a substitute teacher have strengthened Venzor’s commitment to art education.
 
 

Belle WrightBelle Wright

Belle Wright is preparing for a clinical teaching semester in art education. Wright aims to create inclusive, student-centered classrooms where young artists can explore creativity, build confidence and express themselves through art. A central goal is to inspire a lifelong appreciation for art in every student.