The spotlight was on creativity and collaboration, and a team of Cypress Woods High School students rose to the occasion. Bella Jaramillo, K’Laya Moore, Jayla Vongsy, and Riley Wooten earned fourth place in Group Theatrical Design at the 2025 UIL State Theatrical Design Contest, held May 16–17 at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center.

The challenge? Design a theatrical concept for Axoloris: The Musical, a colorful, futuristic production that invited young artists to dream big. Contestants were asked to draw inspiration from a specific art movement, incorporate modern technology, and build a cohesive, family-friendly design—no easy feat.

The four Cypress Woods students worked as a team to create something truly original. Their designs reflected a shared vision, and their fourth-place finish among entries from across Texas highlights the grit and determination behind the scenes.

Mobile Sidebar Ad

“We are incredibly proud of our students for the imagination, dedication and professionalism they brought to this year’s UIL Theatrical Design Contest,” said Kelley Hughes, Cy-Fair ISD coordinator of secondary fine arts. “Their work demonstrates artistic excellence including collaboration, visual communication, problem solving and technology integration.”

Placing fourth in the state didn’t come easily—it took teamwork, trial and error, and a shared creative vision. Jaramillo, Moore, Vongsy, and Wooten pushed through every step of the design process together, balancing artistic ambition with technical demands to build something truly imaginative.

Their work proves that when students support each other and dare to dream big, the results can be extraordinary.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.