Props go out to Rio Rancho High School of New Mexico for nabbing the grand-prize title in the fifth annual Vans Custom Culture art and design contest.
Winning $50,000 to go toward its art program, Rio Rancho High beat out about 2,000 other schools across the nation in a battle of talent and creativity.
Receiving four pairs of blank Vans shoes to serve as the canvases, the participating schools were asked to adorn the kicks according to four distinct themes: art, music, action sports, and “local flavor.”
At the award ceremony held earlier this week in New York City, celebrity judges MKTO, Steve Caballero, Matt Shultz, Kemal Harris and Eley & Kishimoto also recognized the four runner-up schools: Carlsbad High School (Calif.), Cinnaminson High School (N.J.), Eastern High School (Ky.), Parker High School (S.D.) — which all received $4,000 to be donated toward their art programs.
In addition to earning the monetary award, Rio Rancho’s winning shoe design will also be produced and sold in select Vans and Journeys retail stores, as well as online at Vans.com and Journeys.com.
Check out the 2014 champion designs in the images above, and go to Vans Custom Culture to learn more about the contest and to get updates on Rio Rancho’s shoe release.
