Weston Ranch High School senior Mariz Dano learned two important life lessons this year.
Lesson number one: If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.
Lesson number two: Nothing succeeds like determination and an optimistic attitude.
Those two hard-earned eye-openers brought the 17-year-old to the top of her art game last month when she earned the nod from the Manteca Garden Club members who voted her original art work the winner in the group’s annual competition. Along with the recognition and bragging rights is a cool cash award of $100.
This is Dano’s second try at finishing first in this competition. She was an also-ran last year when the Garden Club launched this scholarship and art competition as part of its annual garden tour. As the contest winner, the Cougars’ winning original color art work will be given the utmost visibility. It will be the featured picture on the Manteca Garden Tour poster and will be the door prize given away at the May 7 garden tour.

Contest open to
all MUSD students
More than two-dozen students took part in this year’s art competition, five more than the previous number. Dano’s winning entry is a whimsical artistic composition with two trees forming a heart-shaped form framing a lone female figure. The backdrop is a colorful garden reminiscent of a fairy tale setting with polka-dotted mushrooms and dandelion puffs.
Students had free rein as to the art form they wanted to submit. The only requirement from the club was that it incorporate a garden setting.
“This year’s winner inspired us because of the colorful and magical garden scene,” explained club president Paula Elias.
She added, “Our garden club is always excited to see the art entries for the contest as our students have such imagination with their design and use of color.”
Kira Eadington, Dano’s art teacher at Weston Ranch High, described the winner as “a fantastic student.
“She’s been in my class several times now and always makes stellar projects. She tries her hardest to make everything meaningful and detailed. I’m so happy for her,” Eadington said effusively about the budding artist.
Another Weston Ranch High student, Vincent Hernandez, won the contest last year. His black-and-white floral design was one of 20 entries received.
The 2016 Manteca Garden Tour will be held Saturday, May 7. Tickets at $15 apiece will be available the first week of April at the following businesses: Sadie’s Salon, Delicato Winery, Ed’s Rockery, Rainforest Nursery, German Glas Werks, Tipton’s Stationery & Gifts, the Manteca Senior Center, and Manteca Visitors Center at the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley, all in Manteca, and at Park Greenhouse Nursery in Ripon.
For more information about the Manteca Garden Club, visit the group’s website at www.mantecagardenclub.org.