When it comes to sketching visually appealing works of art, Garrett Rogers is a natural.

“This is his first year in a formal art class,” said Victor Raygoza, art teacher at Pasadena Memorial High School. “He is working at an advanced level. I’ve never seen anyone like him – he has a true talent. Producing great works of art is something that comes to him easily.”

For most of Rogers life, he said he has enjoyed “doodling” on sketch pads during his leisure time. At the start of his senior year, he enrolled in the beginning art class at Memorial – and it wasn’t long before his teachers, classmates and others began to see that his “doodles” somehow transform into award-winning pieces of art.

Rogers’ pencil sketch that was entered into the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Contest won a gold ribbon and sold at auction for $6,000. The sketch was also the first piece he had ever entered into competition.

“When it auctioned off for $6,000, I could not believe it,” he said. “It was an incredible feeling.”

Most recently, Rogers received a $15,000 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art scholarship. He was only one of four students in Southeast Texas to receive the award. “This scholarship is very competitive and less than one percent of the students that apply receive this award,” Memorial art teacher Adam Malek said.

In addition, Rogers is one of six finalists in the Coca-Cola Art Contest, which has already netted him a $1,000 savings bond. If he wins the grand prize in that contest, he will receive a $6,000 savings bond. Rogers is also among the finalists in the Rohm and Haas calendar art contest. At the Mentor Art Exhibition at The Arts Alliance Center in Clear Lake, the sculptures he created won the Juror Choice Award.

“I had always enjoyed sketching and drawing,” Rogers said. “It was a hobby, but this year has made me realize that my art has meaning for many people. That really motivates me.”

The benefits that could help Rogers in his college education also made art classes appealing to him. “I saw the opportunities in it and how it could help pay for the costs of college and possibly help me get into different college programs.”

Rogers has impressed Raygoza and Malek with his work ethic.

“Garrett will stay after school and come in before school to work on his projects,” Malek said. It is something he truly enjoys and it shows. The great thing about Garrett is that he is very receptive to instruction. If we show him a new technique or something that will help make him better, he will try it and he usually picks it up right away.”

However, art is not Rogers’ only talent. He has qualified for regionals in track and he was a cornerback for the Maverick football team this season. Rogers also plays the drums and works on automobile engines in his spare time.

“He is an individual with many talents,” Malek said.

Rogers plans to go to Texas A&M University in the fall and double major in Architecture and Engineering.

“He has shown me what he can do,” Raygoza said. “There is no doubt in mind that he is going to be a success in life.”