Two Valley children came to school on Wednesday, April 30, not knowing that their parents secretly came to watch them win South Padre Island vacations for their families. At Harvest Christian Academy in Edinburg, parents Bryan and Erin Joseph snuck into the gym and tried to be inconspicuous so their daughter Elia Joseph, 10, wouldn’t see them before the announcement was made. Arts festival co-chairman Carey Kinsolving called the names of finalists for the South Texas Children’s Arts Festival.

After the six Harvest students who had made the finals stood in front of their peers in the gym, Kinsolving introduced Luis Martinez, the chief operating officer of South Padre Island’s Isla Grand Beach Resort.

“And the winner is Elia Joseph,” said Martinez, as Harvest students applauded.

Elia Jose

See Full Page