Seventeen student artists in Lampeter-Strasburg School District received a total of 40 awards at this year's Lancaster County Young Artists exhibit. The regional competition, which is organized through a partnership between the Demuth Foundation, the Lancaster Museum of Art and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, opened on March 9.

This year's award winners include Alice Buffington, Claire Eckert, Jacqueline Kunitsky, Elisabeth Reinhart, Emily Lapinsky, Madeline Ross, Rachael Mann, Bella Heyser, Lillian O'Bannon, Gianna Fasano, Ava Weit, Matalyn Zook, Allys Rodriguez, Ryann Logan, Julia Gerald, Lilianna Sanderson, and Isabella Wiggins.

The exhibit is hosted at the Lancaster Museum of Art and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design simultaneously, and it features the work of students from middle schools and high schools throughout the county. A selection of pieces made by artists in Lampeter-Strasburg School District remained on display until April 7 at the Lancaster Museum of Art, 135 N. Lime St., Lancaster.

Every year, students between seventh and 12th grades are invited to submit work in the Lancaster County Young Artists exhibit, which is open to kids who are enrolled in a local district as well as homeschooled youths. The regional competition includes categories for apparel, ceramics and glass, digital art, drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and many other mediums.

"The making of art is only one part of the process as an artist," said Scott Cantrell, an art teacher at Lampeter-Strasburg High School. "The presentation, the consideration of the audience and venue, the reception and sometimes sale of the work is half of the process of being a working artist. So this type of exhibition gives them a chance to go through the entire process and to see where their strengths lie."

Art teachers in each school district select work from their students to enter in the contest every year. Once the submissions are judged, artists who have been chosen for the exhibit are contacted directly to drop off their work. "Many of these students spend an exorbitant amount of time and effort on their artwork," Cantrell said. "So, to be recognized for their dedication is an important motivator to continue in the practice of art-making."

Lancaster County Young Artists was initially run by multiple volunteers. In recent years, the Lancaster Museum of Art and the Demuth Foundation took over the management of the annual contest. Artwork from an additional seven school districts was exhibited at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster city.

For more information, visit http://www.demuth.org.