Every year CultureWorks celebrates a high school student who demonstrates excellence as a leader and as an artist. This year we are thrilled to honor Jaxon Zavala!
I (Miranda) still remember my first day at CultureWorks. It was a Monday way back in January, and after picking kids up from school I was going to spend the afternoon with the Student Advisory Council. I was excited, but nervous about connecting with students for the first time; would they be excited about a new 20-something in their space, or would they feel like I was intruding? How outdated were my sitcom and music references? We were settling down to get class started when Jax said to me, “Hey, we have the same piercing!” and gestured at his nose. Oddly enough, that was the moment I felt like I belonged. There was something about Jaxon pointing out what we had in common and initiating a conversation that felt like a welcome.
I’m not the only one to feel welcome in a space because Jax is there; I’ve noticed that new students start to open up more quickly when Jaxon is around because he sets the tone for classes with his kindness and energy. Other instructors and staff have mentioned it, too!
The CultureWorks Creativity in Leadership Award is awarded each year at our Fall Benefit to a student who “displays remarkable creative talent as a young artist or designer, and who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in our organization. This award recognizes someone who cares deeply about others in our community and models a collaborative spirit and the ability to listen and communicate with peers on projects. This award is for a student who has found the community of CultureWorks to be a significant part of their creative and personal development.”
Jax Zavala exemplifies these qualities; in the past 18 months alone he has volunteered more than 50 hours at CultureWorks, primarily by serving on our Student Advisory Coucil. Jax is artistically gifted and dedicated to his craft. He is a skilled portrait artist, ceramicist, knitter, and printmaker, among other things. Jaxon also has a beautiful way of sharing his perspectives and creativity in a way that encourages and brings out the best in others. We are so grateful that he has been a part of CultureWorks for the past four years, and we are thrilled to present him with this award!
Congratulations, Jax.
