A unique opportunity came to Terra Vista Middle School when Texas State Representative Carl Tepper invited a Frenship student to create an ornament for this year’s Christmas tree at the Texas State Capitol. This invitation, extended by Representative Tepper to honor his district, resulted in a meaningful project for Jana Garrison’s 8th-grade art class. 

With the ornament request arriving in a box labeled with Representative Tepper’s name and district number, Garrison saw this as a chance for her students to showcase their creativity and represent Frenship. She assigned all her 8th graders the task of designing an ornament on paper, encouraging them to incorporate both Texas pride and Frenship school spirit. After reviewing the entries, Garrison selected Jasiah Reyes' design.   

“When I saw Jasiah’s work, I knew it was exactly what we needed,” said Garrison. “He combined symbols of Texas and Frenship in such a thoughtful way. It was such a nice honor for Jasiah, and it also inspired his classmates to take pride in their own artwork. I love seeing our students’ art out in the community; it gives them a sense of pride in their work and pride in their community.” 

Jasiah’s design features a mix of symbols that celebrate both Texas and Frenship. The colors reflect the Texas flag along with Frenship's school colors, while the overall theme incorporates holiday elements to bring the festive spirit. While initially Jasiah didn’t quite realize the significance of this opportunity, the impact became clear as the project took shape. 

“At first, I was kind of confused about why it was such a big deal,” said Reyes. “But then I realized that this ornament is actually going on the Capitol tree. I’m the only one from Frenship with this opportunity, which makes me proud of my work. The colors and symbols represent Texas and Frenship, and it’s pretty cool to have my design featured like this.” 

Now completed, painted, and carefully packed, the ornament is on its way to Austin, ready to take its place on the Capitol Christmas tree. This achievement brings honor not only to Reyes but to the entire Frenship community, showcasing local talent and pride at a state level.