Valencia High School graduate Rebecca Lee’s artwork entitled “#FirstWorldProblems” has been selected for the Art.Write.Now. Tour 2016-17, a national traveling exhibition of the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

A 2016 graduate at Valencia who is currently in the art program at the University of California, Berkeley, Lee first created her award-winning piece in Cindy Pharis’s art class at the high school last year.

“I am more surprised than anything,” Lee said. “I didn’t know there was going to be a tour. However, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity. It is a huge honor to have my work exhibited in such amazing places.”

“Rebecca is a self-motivated, well-rounded person with a great passion for art,” Pharis said. “She stood out in the AP Studio Art course by showing extra effort, skillful technique and exceptional originality.”

In addition to her devotion to art, Rebecca was very involved in community service. She helped build homes in Mexico for six years, while creating an exquisite body of work, a narrative of the interactions between the people involved in the project and an honest portrayal of their shared realities. Rebecca is also a National Merit commended scholar, and a Scholar with Honor. Not only was she the Key Club president, but she was also editor-in-chief of the yearbook and Lieutenant Governor in Key Club for Division 16 North. And of course, she belongs to the National Art Honor Society.

“Without a doubt, Rebecca is a natural leader, an exceptionally talented artist, and a joy to teach,” Pharis said.

Now in its seventh year, the Art.Write.Now.Tour showcases a selection of more than 60 inspiring and innovative works from the Scholastic Awards. This traveling exhibition was guest curated by Johanna Burton, the Keith Haring Director and Curator of Education and Public Engagement at the New Museum in New York City.