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Parkersburg Art Center to show student artwork

PARKERSBURG — Student artwork from around the state will go on display today at the Parkersburg Art Center in downtown Parkersburg.

The annual West Virginia Art Educators Association will hold its annual exhibit and awards presentation from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today at the art center at Eighth and Market streets.

Art teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade from all over the state brought examples of their best student work, which will be on display at the art center through the middle of April. As part of today’s exhibit kickoff, awards will be presented to the student artists.

Several West Virginia colleges and universities will be at the art center today to recruit students for their art programs, said organizer Joe Semple, art teacher at Tyler Consolidated High School.

In the art center’s ballroom, school recruiters will set up booths and displays promoting their institutions, and offer the students information about available scholarship programs. Semple said the colleges will be doing portfolio reviews, which will include examining and critiquing students’ bodies of work, either in physical or digital format.

The event and portfolio reviews are part of the schools’ efforts to recruit students into their art programs, he said. At least one college has indicated to him that it plans to offer a $2,000 scholarship today, Semple said.

The awards presentation by the WVAEA is expected to occur between 12:30-1:30 p.m., Semple said.

Abby Hayhurst, the art center’s director, said at last year’s event a number of students signed letters of intent and received tuition support on the spot.

“It was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever seen. Typically, we art-types are not used to being sought after by college recruiters,” she said.

“One young lady came downstairs last year and was in tears of happiness. She told me multiple schools had made her offers, and she signed with a school that offered her a complete ride. She said, ‘Oh Mrs. Hayhurst, it’s just like I was a quarterback or something!’ It’s was an amazing day, and I’m looking forward to seeing it again this year,” Hayhurst said.

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