Students recognized for 2026 Agri Art Contest; Gabrielle Coloma’s artwork to appear on county directory cover

At the June 23 Desert Sands Unified School District board meeting, Manuel Gaetano, district manager for the Citrus Pest Control District, presented winners of the 2026 Agri Art Contest organized by Growing Coachella Valley.

Gaetano said the theme tied to America’s 250th anniversary in agriculture and praised students for using art to “tell the story of agriculture here in the valley.” He announced winners across elementary, middle and high school divisions, identified winning teachers and noted that winning teachers would each receive a $250 classroom art supply grant funded by the California Table Grape Commission. Gaetano also said the contest winning cover art will be posted on a billboard along Highway 86 and selected for the California county superintendents directory.

Among the honorees, Gabrielle (Gabrielle/Gabrielle Coloma appears in the transcript) Coloma from La Quinta High School was awarded the cover-art selection and will appear in the directory; other winners included Ariel Reyes (elementary division), Liliana Reyes (middle-school honorable mention), Gabriel Coloma (high school 3rd place) and Shanwi Park (high school 1st place at Palm Desert High School). Board members and the superintendent offered congratulatory remarks and the board invited winners and families to take photos following the recognition.

The board included the Agri Art Contest presentation as part of its community and staff recognition segment; there were no questions directing follow-up actions beyond photos and acknowledgement.

The recognition illustrates district engagement with local agriculture and arts partners and the district indicated teacher grants will be distributed to winning teachers.