New Bedford High School just announced one of the top 50 schools that are involved in the 10th annual Vans Custom Culture competition. Each school will be given a black pair of vans to bring out their creativity and customize the shoes based on specific themes. At a time when arts education is failing to get proper funding nationwide, Vans is working to bring awareness to the "importance of youth creativity and self-expression."

Vans Custom Culture was created to inspire and empower high school students to embrace their creativity through art and design and to bring attention to diminishing arts education budgets. Vans believes everyone should be empowered to express themselves creatively and should be given the tools to do so. Custom Culture is a national high school customization competition using blank Vans shoes to be customized around specific themes. - Vans Custom Culture

The competition will be donating $75,000 towards the winning school's art programs and $10,000 to the four runner-up's. One of our local schools is a strong competitor and deserves to be recognized for making it this far. Let's show our support and vote once a day, every day now through next Friday, May 3.

Not only would it be cool to see New Bedford High School win $75,000 for their art programs, but it would be awesome to host a special musical performance by a special surprise guest.

Her are one of the pairs designed by the art students of New Bedford:

Aries Robertson
Aries Robertson
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Aries Robertson
Jerahmell Valentin
Eryn Evangelho
Nicholas Letourneau
Tiara Hatchett
Jennifer Dinh
Liliana Moreno Cornejo
Lucas Amaral
Keegan O'Malley

Note the strong whaling influence in this colorful design! Go Whalers!

With additional reporting by Melanie Galdamez.

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