LA GRANDE — The Eastern Oregon Regional High School Art Exhibition featuring 200 works by students from 14 regional high schools opened Feb. 23 at EOU’s Nightingale Gallery. It is on display through March 15.

Awards were presented for exemplary work by students in grades 9-12. Best of Show winners received an award certificate, a $50 Dick Blick Art Supply gift card and a sketchbook from the EOU art department, as well as an EOU T-shirt, and other EOU swag compliments from the Office of Admissions. Honorable mention recipients received a certificate.

Best of Show

• 12th grade: Alsea Morton, La Grande High School
• 11th grade: Emily Martinez, Burns High School
• 10th grade: Kegan Bott, Baker High School
• 9th grade: Brittain Combs, Powder Valley High School

Honorable Mention

• Baker High School: Rebecca Craigmile, Gracie Spike, Dasha Varianska and Meadoh Wardrop
• Elgin High School: Zach Bergman, Amber George
• La Grande High School: Grayson Helmer
• Pendleton High School: Paige Erickson
• Powder Valley High School: Bella Brandt, Jaydyn Dyke

For the 16th year, the La Grande Arts Commission presented two awards to students from La Grande High. Their Best of Show award went to Grayson Helmer ($200 value gift basket) and “Judges Choice Award” went to Griffin Gorham ($100 value gift basket).

Four regional art centers joined the La Grande Arts Commission in presenting special awards.

Art Center East presented an “Excellence in the Arts-Union County” award to Hadlee Wallace, a sophomore from Union High School, and an “Excellence in the Arts-Harney County” award to Emily Martinez, a junior from Burns High School.

Baker County’s Crossroads Carnegie Art Center awarded a $50 award to BHS sophomore Meren Jesenko.

Pendleton Center for the Arts presented a $100 “PCA Promise Award” to Pendleton High School junior Atlas Garcia.

The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture presented the “Wallowa County High School Art Merit Award” in the form of a $50 Dick Blick gift card to Abigail Dundas of Joseph.

To see the featured artwork, visit the gallery or check the Nightingale Gallery’s Instagram account.

“On behalf of the EOU Art Department and the Nightingale Gallery I would like to congratulate the winners and all the students with work on view,” Nightingale Gallery Director Cory Peeke said. “I would also like to congratulate the art teachers who go above and beyond to make this event the success it is each year.”

Teachers include Holly Coleman (Baker City), Emily Kokesh (Burns), Eric Gustavson (Cove), Rick Thew (Echo), Beth Wasley (Elgin), Dianne Pfel (Enterprise), Jennifer Hawkins (Joseph), Rich McIlmoil (La Grande), Marianne Smith (Milton-Freewater), Erica Cade (Monument), Abby Prevot (Pendleton), Jessie Street (North Powder) and Jaime Gustavson (Union).