At Fort Bend ISD, three Kempner High School students teamed up with Sugar Land Regional Airport on a creative project. Art teacher Ray Montes guided them through the process. The result was a children’s illustration book titled “Sally, Anne, & Beth – Built an Airport”, written by Ken Durbin. The book draws inspiration from three women: Sally Sims, Anne Gaines, and Elizabeth Rosenbaum (Beth). It also honors the history of Sugar Land Regional Airport by celebrating community and storytelling.
“I’m so honored and flattered to be included in the history of this great airport,” said Sally Sims, Certified Pilot, Flight Instructor and Citizen Extraordinaire. “My involvement has been one of the high points of my life.”
The idea for the book started when Sugar Land Regional Airport began looking for a meaningful way to highlight the airport’s connection to the community. During a City Council meeting recognizing student artists, the concept took shape. From there, it became an art contest, and eventually, a published book.
“'Being part of Sally, Anne, & Beth – Built an Airport' was a powerful and inspiring experience for my students,” said Ray Montes. “This gave them the opportunity to connect their creativity with something real, local, and impactful.”
For students Jaylynn Simms (Faunn), Vanessa Ong, and Damilola Sadiq, this was their first time illustrating for publication.
“It felt rewarding to know that my art was going to be part of something people could actually hold, read, and enjoy,” said Damilola Sadiq, a senior at Kempner, who described the experience as exciting and meaningful.
Jaylynn Simms (Faunn), a senior at Kempner, reflected on how the project broadened her perspective as an artist. She shared that the experience helped her realize her artwork could “reach and teach a wider audience of individuals,” and that she felt proud her illustrations might “inspire children and even young adults to pursue their passions from the ground up.”
“We are about customer service—everyone is our customer: pilots, passengers, citizens, students, each other,” said Durbin. He emphasized a proactive mindset: “We choose to take action, even if it’s harder. We didn’t know if the book was possible, but we knew an art contest and collaborating with a school was.”
Elizabeth Rosenbaum is the former Director of Aviation and now serves as Assistant City Manager. She added, “It’s been incredible to witness the hard work and dedication that went into creating this book. I hope it serves as an inspiration to the next generation of aviation professionals.”
The full digital book, created through this unique collaboration, is available to view online: Click here to read it!
Sources: Fort Bend ISD Facebook Page, City of Sugar Land News – Sugar Scoop
Blog by: Jennifer Briscoe, Intern, UTSA