Raba 5th Grader Takes Grand Prize in River Parade Art Contest 

Raba 5th Grader Takes Grand Prize in River Parade Art Contest 

Congratulations to all NISD elementary students who participated in the Texas Cavaliers River Parade Cover Contest! We’re proud to celebrate our award winners, finalists, and their teachers—whose incredible talent earned $42,000 for Northside elementary art programs.

Fifth grader Jacob Munoz from Raba Elementary School took home the Grand Prize in the Texas Cavaliers River Parade Cover Contest! 

Munoz’s win earned him a UTSA art camp scholarship, prizes from Whataburger, the San Antonio Zoo, and H-E-B, plus $10,000 for his school’s art program. His artwork—along with fellow finalists—will be featured on a VIA bus across San Antonio. He will also ride in the 2026 Texas Cavaliers River Parade with his teacher, Katrina Gonzalez, helping kick off Fiesta.

Other NISD finalists are Demi Otinga, fourth grade, Forester ES; Sia Mithra Alagarraj, fifth grade, Steubing ES; Catherine Pyle, fourth grade, Carnahan ES; and Johan Rendon, fourth grade, Leon Valley ES. 

Each finalist received a UTSA art camp scholarship, Whataburger swag, and $5,000 for their campus art program. 

Runners-up are Carol Gonzalez, fourth grade, Forester ES, Evelina Aljiji, fourth grade, Raba ES; Sariah Venditti, fifth grade, Carnahan ES; and Alexia Martinez, fifth grade, Wanke ES. 

All participants will enjoy complimentary tickets to the San Antonio Zoo.

Grand Prize Winner Jacob Munoz 5TH Grade Raba Elementary Teacher: Katrina Gonzalez
Grand Prize Winner Jacob Munoz 5TH Grade Raba Elementary
Finalist Catherine Pyle 4TH Grade Carnahan ES Teacher: Kristin Rosario (Photographed with Carnahan Principal, Lucille Gomez and District 8 Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez
Finalist Sia Mithra Alagarraj 5TH Grade Steubing ES Art Teacher: Michelle Gonzales (Photographed with King Antonio, Gardner Peavy, Principal Latia Bishop and Executive Director of Fine Arts, Elizabeth Sanchez Lopez
Finalist Johan Rendon 4TH Grade Leon Valley ES Teacher: Lorae Mercier (Photographed with King Antonio, Gardner Peavy, Principal Jessica Ruiz-Huerta and Executive Director of Fine Arts, Elizabeth Sanchez Lopez
Finalist Demi Otinga 4TH Grade Forester ES Teacher: Jesus Rosales

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