Vail-area students could see their artwork on a Hughes Federal Credit Union debit card, with the community set to vote Saturday on five finalist designs at the credit union's Vail branch.

This is Hughes' first student-centered contest in collaboration with the Vail School District Foundation, with the event designed to support students' creativity.

Hughes Federal Credit Union Community Engagement Manager Irlanda Cuevas said she wanted to give a Vail student the chance to see their own artwork on a debit card.

“Wouldn't it be neat to have a debit card design from one of the students in the Vail Unified School District?” she said. “So then we can give a child an opportunity to create the artwork, put it on the Vail debit card.”

Twenty-five high school students submitted art for the contest. The winning design will be featured on the next version of the Vail branch's Affinity debit card, with $5 from every card issued going to the Vail School District Foundation.

The new design will be available at the branch starting in November.

Community members are invited to visit Hughes' Vail branch, at 9036 S. Houghton Road, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday to view the final five designs and vote on their favorite.

Organizers will tally the votes during the event and announce first, second and third place winners at around 11 a.m.

First place will receive $500, second place will receive $250 and third place will receive $100.

The event will also feature vendors, including breakfast burritos from El Coronado, and raffles for prizes from Galaxy Theatres and Street Taco and Beer Co.

Staffers from radio station 92.9 The Bull will also be on hand, playing music throughout the event.

The five finalists were selected using rigorous criteria by a panel of 10 judges, including members of Hughes' marketing department and the Vail branch manager, Cuevas said.

“We had … a rubric that was a weighted score of 100 points,” Cuevas said.

Judges scored entries on how well the artwork reflected the Vail community, the clarity and sincerity of the artist's statement and inspiration, the artistic quality and craftsmanship of the piece, and its originality, including whether the design felt distinct rather than familiar.

“It was a one to five score guide, and then we took all of the scores,” Cuevas said. “We voted internally, and then that's how we got our top five.”

Hughes is proud to partner with the foundation to help motivate students, showcase their artwork and connect their talent with the community, Cuevas said.

“I truly feel that this is a great opportunity for the Vail community to come together and support their students, especially artists,” she said. “We believe that art sometimes is the missed component in our community, and we would love to highlight that.”

Kenia Licea is a University of Arizona journalism student and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at klicea2004@arizona.edu.

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