EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A 12th-grade student at El Paso High School has been selected to represent House District 77 in the 2025 Texas House District Ornament Showcase, a statewide tradition that showcases student artwork on the Christmas tree inside the House of Representatives Chamber at the Texas Capitol.

State Rep. Vince Perez, D-El Paso, made the announcement on Wednesday, Nov. 12, in a news release.

Perez wants students to make Christmas ornaments for Texas Capitol

Indira Johnson’s ornament design captures one of El Paso’s most iconic and inspiring sights, a brilliant El Paso sunset over the Franklin Mountains, with the Star on the Mountain shining brightly in the evening sky.

“Each ornament tells a story about the community it represents, and Indira’s design beautifully captures what makes El Paso so special,” Rep. Perez said. “Our sunsets are the best in Texas, and the star on the mountain is a symbol of home for every El Pasoan. Indira’s ornament reminds us of the pride we share in our city and its people.”

Johnson said the ornament design was inspired by many of the sunsets she’s seen in El Paso and captures the environment and beauty of the city.

“Art is like my way to express myself, and express my community, and my identity,” Johnson said.

She added that, as someone who wants to be a lawyer and get into politics when she gets older, she wants to use art in her career to bring people together.

As KTSM previously reported, local students were invited to participate in this year’s showcase, which will be displayed from Dec. 1 through Jan. 2, 2026.

Elijah Escobar, AP art teacher at El Paso High School, coordinated his campus’s submissions, which represented the largest participation from any school in the district, according to the news release.

“My goal as an educator when I started was to figure out a way to get students involved in the community. That’s my ultimate goal,” Escobar said.

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