The Pavilion Honors Outstanding Students and Educators Through 2026 Arts in Action Awards Program
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion recently celebrated exceptional young artists and dedicated arts educators from across the region through its 2026 Arts in Action Awards Program, recognizing excellence in arts education and creative achievement.
This year, 57 students were nominated by their teachers and school administrators for demonstrating outstanding talent, dedication and leadership in the arts. From those nominations, six students were selected to receive Arts in Action Awards, representing six artistic disciplines: choir, orchestra, band, visual arts, theatre and dance. Award recipients came from school districts across the Greater Houston area and were recognized for their commitment to artistic excellence both inside and outside the classroom.
The 2026 program also introduced a new Educators in Action recognition, honoring two exceptional teachers whose passion and dedication have made a lasting impact on their students and school communities. One visual arts educator and one performing arts educator were selected for this accolade.
To celebrate the honorees, The Pavilion hosted its first-ever Arts in Action Reception, bringing together award recipients, their families, nominators and educators for a special evening of recognition. Guests enjoyed dinner in The Woodforest Bank Club, received their awards and were treated to reserved fourth-row seating for the evening’s performance of Polynesian dance from My Hula Hut and a screening of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch.
The impact of the recognition was evident among the educators who nominated this year's recipients. Following the event, Kalista Kresta, Orchestra Director at Mitchell Intermediate, shared, "I know this means the world for that child and that family. Thank you so much for this honor."
Mariah Lavallais, Dance Educator and Director at Miller Intermediate Performing and Visual Arts, expressed her excitement for student honoree Sarah Assaf, saying, "Sarah is so deserving of this award, and her mom is beyond proud as am I."
The 2026 Arts in Action student award recipients were:
• Axel Ratliff, Choir, Summerwood Elementary School (Humble ISD)
• David Albu, Band, Bailey Middle School (Spring ISD)
• Laurel Travis, Visual Arts, Knox Junior High (Conroe ISD)
• Penny, Theatre, Knox Junior High (Conroe ISD)
• Ryan Kwon, Orchestra, Mitchell Intermediate (Conroe ISD)
• Sarah Assaf, Dance, Miller Intermediate Performing and Visual Arts (Alief ISD)
The inaugural Educators in Action honorees were:
• Leslie Fernandez, Visual Arts Educator, Kingwood Middle School (Humble ISD)
• Sarah Nagy, Performing Arts Educator, Youngblood Intermediate (Alief ISD)
The Arts in Action Awards Program reflects The Pavilion’s ongoing commitment to supporting arts education and recognizing the students and educators who enrich their communities through creativity, dedication and artistic achievement.
For photos of the event, check out the following link: https://app.air.inc/a/be47300d6.
For more information about The Pavilion, please visit our website at www.woodlandscenter.org or follow The Pavilion on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
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Opened in 1990, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is part of The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides diverse, high-quality performing arts events for the entertainment and enrichment of a broad regional audience. Through numerous educational and community outreach programs, The Center is a catalyst for attracting new audiences to the performing arts and building strong ties between the arts and educational institutions.