Chisholm Trail Middle School student named finalist in statewide writing and art contest

Written by: Chloe Danicki (Northwest High School senior)

Chisholm Trail Middle School sixth-grader Emma Dominguez is a finalist in I Am Texas, an annual statewide writing and art contest by The Bryan Museum. Her piece, "Dear Emma Tenayuca", earned her recognition in this year’s competition.

The contest invites students in second through 12th grades to share unique Texas stories through art and writing. Finalists’ artwork is displayed at The Bryan Museum in Galveston, and their writing is published in the "I Am Texas Historian’s Journal".

“I was really happy because I had put a lot of work into it,” Emma said. “I was just really hoping to make it to the finalist level. So I was really happy.”

Emma was first introduced to the contest in fifth grade when her teacher, Mrs. Navarro, encouraged her class to participate. Inspired by music legend Selena Quintanilla, she submitted her first entry and was selected as a finalist.

Encouraged by that success, Emma entered again the following year – this time registering and completing the process entirely on her own. Her second entry, a letter to labor activist Emma Tenayuca, earned her another finalist honor.

“She was brave and courageous, even though she knew it wasn’t going to end well,” Emma said of Tenayuca, who led a 1930s protest of 12,000 workers. “That made me realize that I can be brave too.”

Emma, who dreams of becoming an author, also hopes to one day pursue activism, politics or another path that allows her to stand up for others and make a difference.

Her father, Ivan Dominguez, said her determination has been clear from an early age.

“I think her expectations are really high,” he said. “If there’s a word that describes her, it’s discipline. I never had to tell her to do homework, and I didn’t have to tell her to do the writing contest.”

When Emma told her father she wanted to register for the contest on her own, he encouraged her to take full ownership of the process.

“I’m proud that Emma chose a woman who inspired her,” he said. “For her to do a deep dive into history and connect it to the present – that’s amazing. This kind of opportunity will go a long way in expanding her academic path.”