Clear Lake High School Student Pays Tribute to the International Space Station

Clear Lake High School graduate Carolina Colon was chosen to create a painting of the International Space Station for NASA’s Johnson Space Center’s Transportation Integration Office. Her artwork, named “Among the Stars,” includes the orbiting laboratory and all its current complement of visiting vehicles overlooking Earth with a tribute to the state of Texas. As a result of her dedication to capturing the significance of the station, Carolina was awarded the first Transportation Integration Office Certificate of Appreciation.

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As a Houston native, Carolina considers art to be her passion. She recently graduated from Clear Lake High School in December 2022 and will be attending Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, where she will major in motion design and minor in fine arts. Since her early years as a student, Carolina has been competing in Clear Creek Independent School District art competitions. Some of her achievements include the 2018 Youth Art Month Capital Art Award, 2019 American Vision Nominee, 2021 and 2022 State Visual Arts Scholastic Event Gold Seal, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston Scholarship recipient from 2020 to 2022, and 2022 Gold Key Scholastic Art and Writing Award.

“I was given the opportunity by my art teacher, Mr. Peter Storms, to create a painting for NASA’s International Space Station Program and it was an honor to have this opportunity,” said Carolina. “Through this journey, it has taught me to admire the commitment and dedication from the space program as they continue to reach for the stars. I consider myself lucky to be able to grow in a city where NASA continues to evolve. “Among the Stars” is a representation of my appreciation and respect towards NASA, the space station, and the legacy they bring to Houston, Texas.”

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The Transportation Integration Office (ON) is blown away by Carolina’s unique and colorful painting of the space station. Kristi Duplichen, Transportation Integration Office Deputy Manager, said, “We are so grateful that Carolina shared her talent with our office. She did an amazing job capturing the spirit of the crew and cargo services we provide in ON. It brightens our office in a very special and personal way.”

Carolina’s artwork, “Among the Stars,” is hung in the ON office 5820 in Building 4S at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.