STEPS OF SUCCESS—Royal High School senior Myles Hacock’s pencil sketch of five leaders in the civil rights movement—Frederick Douglass, Gandhi, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama—was one of 10 winners in “Celebrate Success,” a statewide art contest for all K-12 public education students. The scholarship contest was sponsored by the Association of California School Administrators and Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP. Image courtesy of Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP Even as a child, Royal High School senior Myles Hacock had an affinity for art.

The superheroes and villains that populated the worlds of Stan Lee’s Marvel Comics fascinated the youngster, and he soon took to drawing the monsters he saw on those pages.

Now 18, the Simi Valley native recalls that as a secondgrader he’d watch his brothers play video games like “Crash Bandicoot” and then use pen and paper to re-create the characters he saw on screen.

Myles Hacock As with any youngster, his interest came and went in waves. It wasn’t until last fall that he threw himself fully into his art.

“I was seriously thinking about what I should do with my life, and I thought if I want to do this as a career I need to start putting work toward it and investing time into my ability. So I made a goal to draw four hours a day,” he said. “It was a conscious effort.”

That effort recently paid off when Hacock submitted a drawing to the Celebrate Success Art Contest, a statewide competition sponsored by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) and Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP, known as F3, a law firm that represents public school and community college districts throughout California.

Of the more than 600 entries received by ACSA from K-12 students, Hacock’s submission was one of 10 winners.

Students were asked to create an original work of art that visually captured the essence of success.

“(The judges) said that his piece was powerful, moving, mature beyond words. It’s a very touching piece,” said Terilyn Finders, director of communications for F3. “I’d say he’s clearly a very talented young man with a lot to share.”

Hacock’s untitled pencil sketch shows political activists who fought for the rights of all human beings. Hacock drew the faces of Frederick Douglass, Gandhi, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. And because he is the first black U.S. president, Hacock topped the piece with Barack Obama.

“Their achievements were able to push social norms in order to alter the natural ways of society, and without their efforts we’d probably still be in a primitive state of hatred,” Hacock explained.

In addition to meriting a $250 savings bond, Hacock’s winning piece will be on display during ACSA’s “Every Child Counts . . . Celebrate Success” Symposium in January. The winning entries will also be used on note cards, which will be given to education leaders attending the conference.

“ While the state budget casts a great shadow on education’s accomplishments, we hope this serves as a momentary reminder of the wonderful things going on in education,” Finders said. “Simi Valley has remained quite committed to the arts and the whole child, and I’m glad to see one of their kids was recognized.”

Hacock said it was “awesome” to win.

“It’s a nice feeling that my efforts are being rewarded. It’s just nice knowing that I’m getting somewhere and that all the time I put into it is coming to fruition.”

Amy Petrocelli, Hacock’s AP studio art teacher at Royal, said that in the short time she’s known Hacock she’s learned he’s not afraid to work hard or take risks.

“What I’m finding with Myles is he really reaches out for any kind of opportunity; he’s ready to grab it and run,” she said. “He’s participated in more competitions this year than any student I’ve had.”

As in his younger years, Hacock still enjoys creating science fiction art. His ultimate goal would be to one day create concept art for the video games he and his brothers love to play.

But for now, he’s focused on refining his skills.

“I’m just trying to get better technique-wise, so I’m doing a broad range, like portraits, beautiful sunsets, human anatomy studies and studying light and the masters,” he said. “That’s how you get better, just copying those who are professional and understanding the way they did it.”

Petrocelli said she’s been impressed by the teen’s self-motiva- tion and she’s seen his work evolve month by month as he explores different mediums and styles.

“It’s largely computer graphic work, but he’s gone all the way from drawing on sketch pads and scanning them into the computer to where now he is taking his laptop on site, like to the beach, and doing painterly work from observation.”

He’s also begun incorporating his other interests—such as sociology, psychology and science— into his art to give his work substance and meaning.

Petrocelli said her student has “terrific” color sense and imagination, and she can definitely see him as a game designer—not only because of his talent but also because of his perseverance and desire to succeed.

Knowing he’s constantly growing keeps Hacock going.

“We always need something to grow from,” he said. “Through art, every acquisition of a technique or just learning how to draw something better, it gives me a sense of joy that I’m developing and that I’m growing. . . . It’s a perpetual state of happiness because you’re always learning from it.”