By Andi Bedsworth

As school is winding down for the semester, many students and teachers are receiving recognition for their accomplishments this year.

A couple of weeks ago at the Student Art Exhibition at the Powerhouse, awards were given to students who displayed their artwork in the annual gallery show. The show, which is held annually in March, is open to all local school children including home-schoolers in the Oxford/Lafayette area. Artwork ranged from collages, paintings, drawings and sketches and more.

Awards are given in age categories and the winners were as follows:

In the pre-K to Kindergarten category, the following gents and one lady received recognition: Jacob Schultze took first place for his piece Guitar. Tommy Grosskopf got second place for his Robot Rampage. Declan Ray received third place for Blue Fish and Evelyn Zerangue got an honorable mention for her piece entitled Kitty.

The first and second grade category included first place winner Bowen Vaughn for One Eyed Willie; second place winner Josie Wilson for Blue Bonnets; third place winner Helen Hale for Hummingbirds, Hummingbirds; and honorable mention went to Ringo Ridling for Farm.

The next age category included third and fourth-graders and the winners for those awards included Sarah Osburg for Puppy in the Blue with First Place; Lizah Reile Holland with second place for A Very Starry Night; Hadley Green with third place for Daffodile and honorable mention for Anna Lynn Cooper for Bobcat.

The fifth-grade group, which was rather large, warranted their own category.  First place went to Brinn Vaughn for Violet and second place was awarded to Della Shackelford for Fall. Chet Brewer took third place for Clown Fish and fellow Magnolia Montessori classmate Charlie Hiatt received an honorable mention for Peaceful Morning.

The Junior High category included sixth through eighth grades and Eva Childers was awarded first place for Ruthie; Laila Owens took home second place for Need a Way Out; Julia Hardy received third place for Dragon Cave, and Lauren Best was chosen for the honorable mention award for her piece, Tiger.

The High School category was for ninth through 12th grade, and the winners included Hai Hai Fisher, who earned first place ribbon for his Self Portrait; Nathan Zerangue in second place for Motley; Kaitlin Vanderford in third place for Blue Moon, and Aubrey Best for Brunch Dining.

During the reception, which included arts activities, a fun photo booth, lots of artsy refreshments and balloon artist Steve Thomas, guests were invited to vote for a People’s Choice award. Ballots were passed out, and guests chose their favorite. Emma Humphrey’s received the People’s Choice award for this year’s exhibition.

Kudos to the Oxford Artists’ Guild and the Yoknapatawhpa Arts Council for sponsoring the event and to each and every artist who participated.

Andi Bedsworth is owner of Art To Go, which brings free art opportunities to children in the community.