RCHS student one of 50 finalists in Vans contest

Rancho Cucamonga High School Junior Alexus Dietz has discovered blank pairs of sneakers as an ideal canvas to showcase her artwork – and it’s earning her national acclaim.

Alexus, who has been drawing since she was a young child, is one of 50 finalists in the Vans High School Custom Culture competition, in which thousands of student artists from across the country create personal designs on blank pairs of Vans sneakers.

“I didn’t think I was going to get it, but my teacher (Diane Gutierrez) messaged me. I was so excited … I was squealing,” she says.

Now comes the really fun part. With the support of friends, family and the community, Alexus could earn a $50,000 first prize for the school and its art department if she were to win the annual competition, which is determined by an online vote ending May 7 at https://customculture.vans.com.

“This is unheard of,” says her Rancho Cucamonga High School Principal Eduardo Zaldivar. “We’ve never experienced this at our school, and we’re so very proud.”

It’s not the first time Alexus has entered the competition, which is heavily promoted at Vans stores across the country. But after not making the cut last year, she redoubled her efforts this time around, often working until 2 o’clock in the morning to work on her two designs – one with a Route 66 theme, the other she calls “Head in the Clouds,” featuring a skull and butterflies.

She used acrylics, alcohol markers and gel to create her work, which was deemed superior enough to make the first cut of 250 semi-finalists, out of more than 5,000 entries. This past week, she learned she was among the final 50.

Alexus says she has always been interested in art – a craft handed down from her mother, Jackie Dietz, who says “art runs in the family.”

To vote for Alexus’ work, please go to https://customculture.vans.com and search for Rancho Cucamonga High School.

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