Vans Custom Culture contest top 50 semifinalists include eight SoCal schools

Eight Southern California schools are among the 50 finalists nationwide in the 2016 Vans Custom Culture Competition, the Cypress-based action sports brand announced today.

Student shoe designs from Lancaster’s Eastside High School, Irvine’s Northwood High School, Orange’s Orange High School, Glendora’s St. Lucy’s Priory High School, Trinity Christian Schools in Garden Grove, University High School in Irvine, Western High School in Anaheim and Escondido’s San Pasqual High School were among those winnowed from more than 2,400 submissions to vie for a $50,000 donation to their school’s arts education program. Rounding out the contest’s California region semifinalists are Evergreen Valley High School (San Jose) and Gregori High School (Modesto).

All 50 semifinalist submissions are currently on display at www.vans.com/customculture, where the public is encouraged to vote for their favorite designs through May 11. The top five picks will go on to a June 8 finale in Los Angeles, where the chosen winner will go home with a $50,000 donation to her or his school’s arts education program and the four runners-up will each earn their schools’ art programs $4,000. A $15,000 “local attitude” award (courtesy of retail partner Journeys) also rewards the school with a design that best captures the notion of “local flavor.”

The competition, now in its seventh year, saw its first winning Southern California school just last year when Carlsbad High took home the top prize along with the Journeys-sponsored local flavor award and $10,000 in additional funding from the Truth antismoking campaign -- a side competition that returns again this year and is open to all 50 semi-finalists.

Can a SoCal school reel in the top prize ¿ and bragging rights ¿ for the second year in a row?

Like that other big contest going on this year, it’s going to depend on votes.

Unlike that other big contest this year, supporters are encouraged to vote often ¿ each person is allowed to cast one vote per geographic region per day.

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