����Ӱҵ

Bookmarks will be available at libraries

As part of the year-long ����Ӱҵ150 celebration, the  partnered with the ����Ӱҵ District to invite sixth-grade students across the district to showcase their creativity and community pride through a special ����Ӱҵ150 Bookmark Contest.

All sixth-grade classes throughout ����Ӱҵ ISD were invited to participate by designing bookmarks inspired by ����Ӱҵ’s history, future, landmarks, neighborhoods and community spirit as the city prepares to celebrate its sesquicentennial in 2026.

A panel of judges including ����Ӱҵ Mayor Jim Ross and representatives from ����Ӱҵ ISD reviewed submissions from campuses across the district and selected seven winning designs based on creativity, originality and how well they reflected the spirit of ����Ӱҵ’s 150th anniversary.

The winners were recognized during the Tuesday, May 19, 2026, ����Ӱҵ City Council meeting.

The ����Ӱҵ150 Bookmark Contest winners are:

• Ximena Aldana – Berry Elementary
• Lauren Maqueda – Johns Elementary
• Emilia Navarro – Remynse Elementary
• Garrett Hosier – Little Elementary
• Atziry Marinez – Berry Elementary
• Cecilia Tran – JB Little Elementary
• Airiana Woods – Sherrod Elementary

Thanks to the generous support of the , each winning bookmark design will be professionally reproduced and distributed throughout the community as part of the ����Ӱҵ150 celebration. One unique bookmark will be available at each of ����Ӱҵ’s seven public library locations, giving residents the opportunity to visit every branch and collect the full commemorative series. In addition, bookmarks will be included in backpacks distributed during AISD’s annual Back to School Kickoff, helping share the ����Ӱҵ150 celebration with students and families across the city.

“The ����Ӱҵ150 celebration is about bringing our entire community together,” said Mayor Jim Ross. “This contest was a great way to engage students and families from across ����Ӱҵ and ensure people of all ages have an opportunity to participate in celebrating our city’s 150th anniversary.”

Linh Nguyen, assistant director of Fine Arts – Visual Arts for ����Ӱҵ ISD, said the contest gave students an opportunity to connect art, history and civic pride in a meaningful way.

“This partnership gave students a chance to express what ����Ӱҵ means to them through art,” Nguyen said. “Projects like this help students see that their creativity matters and that they are an important part of the story and future of our city.”

The bookmark contest is one of many community engagement initiatives planned as part of ����Ӱҵ’s 150th anniversary celebration, which will feature events, public art, storytelling projects and partnerships spanning all 99 square miles of the city.

The ����Ӱҵ150 celebration is made possible through a generous partnership with the ����Ӱҵ Tomorrow Foundation, whose support is helping bring community-focused programs and initiatives to life throughout the city’s sesquicentennial year. Through this partnership, the winning bookmark designs are being professionally reproduced and distributed across ����Ӱҵ, allowing students, families and residents to take part in celebrating the city’s 150th anniversary in a meaningful and lasting way.

To learn more about ����Ӱҵ’s 150th anniversary celebration, visit .