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The Woodlands HS Photography Earns Rising Star Award

CONROE, TEXAS (May 18, 2023) – The Woodlands High School Photography students, under the guidance of Julie Pelosi, were named the Association of Texas Photography Instruction 2022-23 Rising Star Program.

TWHS students took first place in architecture and nature, second in portrait, and third in sports.

Students whose work was included are: Aiden Fritsche, Eesha Reddy, Gabrielle Nix, Annabelle Rohrbough, Ema Lamyuen, Holly Mullins, Gio Walden, Albert Kaci, Mauro Barragan, Connor Koenig, Wenny Stein, Arturo Rios, Katie Pepper, Rachael Howse-Wygand, Alex Maclaughlin, Taryn Farnsworth, Jude Gillespie, Micah Archibald, Nico Nunez, Anneliese Pridgen, MJ Monroe, Ben Davis, and Mason Brady.

Schools may enter 10-image portfolios in up to four categories. The Rising Star Award is presented to the school with the highest number of winning portfolios.

“This is our third year entering the Rising Star contest,” Pelosi said. “In 2021, we placed in two individual categories, but not overall. Last year, we took a big jump forward and placed second overall. This year, the stars aligned for us, and we were able to put together some winning portfolios. I’m so proud of this group of students.

“My advanced photo kids especially are a special group, they were the ones who helped us place second last year and their talent and leadership has increased exponentially over the last year. They really have been all-in from the beginning of the year. We’ve won 55 total awards as a program this year, and that’s a testament to all their hard work. I’m so happy they were the ones to help establish us as a dominant program in the state. I can’t wait to see where we go from here!”

The Association of Texas Photography Instructors provides information and resources to teachers and students that work with photography, whether in Art, Journalism, Career and Technology, or Vocational curriculum areas.

Below are samples of their winning work.

The Woodlands High School Photography Program earned the Rising Star Award. Here is one of their winning photos of a snake.
Rising Star
Nature
Katie Pepper
The Woodlands HS
The Woodlands, TX
Julie Pelosi, instructor
The Woodlands High School Photography Program earned the Rising Star Award. Here is one of their winning photos of an electricity grid.
Rising Star
Architecture
Gio Walden
The Woodlands HS
The Woodlands, TX
Julie Pelosi, instructor
The Woodlands High School Photography Program earned the Rising Star Award. Here is one of their winning photos of the sun reflecting off a building.
Rising Star
Architecture
Mauro Barragan
The Woodlands HS
The Woodlands, TX
Julie Pelosi, instructor
The Woodlands High School Photography Program earned the Rising Star Award. Here is one of their winning photos of a forest called Oregon Slumber in the Snow.
Rising Star
Nature
Jude Gillespie
The Woodlands HS
The Woodlands, TX
Julie Pelosi, instructor
The Woodlands High School Photography Program earned the Rising Star Award. Here is one of their winning black and white photos of a girl.
Rising Star
Portrait
Albert Kaci
The Woodlands HS
The Woodlands, TX
Julie Pelosi, instructor
The Woodlands High School Photography Program earned the Rising Star Award. Here is one of their winning photos from a baseball game.
Rising Star
Portrait
MJ Monroe
The Woodlands HS
The Woodlands, TX
Julie Pelosi, instructor
The Woodlands High School Photography Program earned the Rising Star Award. Here is one of their winning photos from a track meet.
Rising Star
Sports
MJ Monroe
The Woodlands HS
The Woodlands, TX
Julie Pelosi, instructor
The Woodlands High School Photography Program earned the Rising Star Award. Here is one of their winning photos from a TWHS football game.
Rising Star
Sports
Connor Koenig
The Woodlands HS
The Woodlands, TX
Julie Pelosi, instructor