Student of the MonthJanuary 2016

VSA Florida is proud to announce Kate Sisko and Bailey Houghton as the January 2016 Students of the Month.

18-year-old Kate Sisko attends Lecanto High School in Inverness and was nominated by ESE Specialist Victoria McCraine of Citrus County Schools. She writes, “Kate is very committed to honing her talent as an artist; she has a deep desire to continue her [arts] education and has interests in many areas.” Kate shines as a true artist in many ways. She has been recognized for her talents through the visual arts, receiving the gold seal designation at the Inverness Festival of the Arts, where her work has been exhibited. She’s a member of the National Honor Society, despite being designated SLD (Specific Learning Disability), and continues to build her portfolio for submission to the Advanced Placement (AP) College Board for her

AP Studio Art class, specifically in the area of movement/fluidity.

18-year-old Bailey Houghton attends Leon High School in Tallahassee and was nominated by Autism Consultant Allison Leatzow of the FSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (FSU CARD). She writes, “Bailey’s creativity and imagination speaks for her and in some ways, are representative of her true self.” For six years, Bailey has been honing her skills through art camps, piano lessons and school choruses. It is quite evident Bailey is not letting Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) get in the way of her creativity. She participates in the Leon High School Capital Singers, an auditioned SATB choir, performing at school and community functions and is a vital member of both the Art and Culture Clubs. Bailey also finds time to volunteer at her church and

participate in a youth group. Bailey has set her sights on college next fall and plans to seek a degree in the arts.

In the coming weeks, VSA Florida is looking forward to presenting Kate and Bailey with their gift certificates and personalized trophies for winning this prestigious award.