ICOE Presents Sixth Annual Autumn and the Arts
Sophia Gaxiola on October 6, 2026
The Imperial County Office of Education collaborated with the Foundation for Education to hold their sixth annual Autumn of the Arts celebration and auction, which showcased artwork created by students from all over the Imperial Valley.
The celebration included dinner, entertainment, keynote speeches and live and silent auctions, featuring paintings, sculptures and photography by students from sixth to 12th grade.
About 200 community members attended the celebration, leaving all pieces of art with at least one bid each. All auction proceeds will be given directly to the students in the form of a Foundation for Education scholarship.
Foundation for Education
The Foundation for Education is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports students and educational programs throughout the Imperial Valley.
Funding for countywide student events, scholarships, art programs and other major initiatives is provided by the foundation, making the Autumn and the Arts celebration possible.
Their mission is to improve the quality of life in the Imperial Valley by promoting strong families and students who are prepared for life, college and career.
Autumn and the Arts
Students were at the center of the Autumn and the Arts celebration. Besides producing most of the artwork, students also had a hand in creating door prizes and the food that was served.
Eighth grade students from El Centro’s Ms. Villarreal-Marcuson and Ms. Stacy Blackmer-Blomquist’s art classes created special ceramic vases for this event, and Imperial High School’s culinary arts students prepared all the desserts.
In regards to this year’s initiative video, Southwest High School graduate Karissa Ruiz Ovando was recognized for her artistic talents. Ruiz created an animation titled “I Am Seen,” which won first place in a state competition on wellness.
“I am the one who created the film I Am Seen to raise awareness for suicide prevention and for mental health,” Ruiz stated. “I never imagined that my film (would) win first place … I’m so happy about it, but for me, the most important part wasn’t winning, it was why I created it.”
Ruiz created the film as an effort to show her friend that she was there for here, as Ruiz said, “The heart of I Am Seen … a friend of mine was going through a very tough time in her life, and instead of ignoring her or thinking that they were dramatic, I chose to listen. I chose to be beside them, I chose to hear them out because they were my friend and they mattered to me.”
Ruiz was awarded a $500 Foundation for Education scholarship for her efforts, which she plans to use to further her education.
Pertaining to this year’s Champion for the Arts, Calipatria native Roque Barros was chosen for his expertise in philanthropy, regional equity and community-rooted leadership to advance arts, culture and creative expression across the Imperial Valley and the state of California.
Barros currently serves as executive director for the Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation, where he leads regional health and wellness initiatives.
“The Imperial Valley has some amazing artists and talent here that unfortunately, due to our geographical location, sometimes our voice and visibility is very limited,” Barros said. “The Imperial Valley is visible at every meeting that I attend. I am honored to accept the Champion or the Arts recognition, and I do so very humbly because of the many people that I’ve worked with here … For me, being Champion of the Arts recognizes that we still have a lot more work to do.”
Article by Sophia Gaxiola, Calexico Chronicle
For more information about this event, visit the Foundation for Education webpage at https://foundation.icoe.org/fundraiser