La Peña begins its new season with an exhibit of student artwork from the Fine Arts Academy of Lopez High School in Brownsville, Texas. The three students who will be showcased are: Governor's Selection Award winner Juan Hernandez, Alina Abete, and Daniella Valerio. The exhibit will be on display from October 4 th until October 29 th with an opening reception taking place on Saturday, October 9 th from 6-8 pm.

Juan Hernandez is a junior at Lopez High School. Earlier this year, he won the Governor's Selection Award. During Texas Youth Art Month, the top ten finalists have their work displayed in the Governor's Office. Juan's artwork was among those ten. He likes to think of art as his best friend and has focused on this talent ever since junior high. A teacher from his middle school helped him increase his artistic ability. Then Juan decided to enroll in Lopez High School because of the Fine Arts Academy. While he still has his senior year of high school left, he hopes to go to college to continue his art education.

Alina Abete is a senior at Lopez High School. She knew early on in life that art would be her lifelong pursuit. Alina believes art is not only beautiful and enticing, but also therapeutic. She had many accomplishments and awards for her art throughout junior high. This continued through high school when she enrolled at Lopez High School in the Fine Arts Academy. She plans to continue her art education in college and hopes to base her career on it.

Daniella Valerio is a senior at Lopez High School. She inherited her passion for art from her parents, who are both artists. In elementary school, she was always drawing her classmates and teacher. In junior high, she enrolled in the art class they offered. It was after that class that her heart was set on art. When she began high school, Daniella's mother enrolled her in the Fine Arts Academy. After enjoying several years of learning about art from other art enthusiasts, she would like to attend the School of Visual Arts in New York after she graduates.

Lopez High School was established in the 1993-94 school year and became Brownsville's fifth high school. It houses the fine arts magnet program within the Brownsville Independent School District. The Fine Arts Academy at Lopez High exists to provide training at multiple levels in dance, music, theater, visual arts, and media production. The current principal is Ms. Magdalena Gutierrez. The visual arts instructors are Ms. Susan Terrant and Mrs. Linda McGonigle. Together they have over sixty years of teaching experience.