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PARKERSBURG -- Wood County Schools' Art Expressions exhibit wrapped up Sunday at the Parkersburg Art Center with the announcement of awards.
Approximately 200 students, from third-graders to high school seniors across the district's schools, had work displayed in the event, said Kay Mason, who coordinated the show.
"It represents pretty much the entire county," she said.
Mason said participation was up this year compared to last, which she attributed to having an in-person event again, rather than virtual like last year's, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the winners selected by a panel of judges and recognized Sunday was Parkersburg South freshman Samantha McKinney, whose pencil drawing, "Cassowary," earned first place in the ninth-grade category.
"I think it's really awesome I was able to get an award for something I did," she said.
McKinney said she's been doing art as a hobby since she was little, and she'd encourage any student to share their art through shows like the Expressions exhibit.
"They should go for it," she said. "They all have their own unique styles and they should embrace it."
The winners, by grade, were:
12th
* First: Harper Lawrence, Parkersburg High School.
* Second: Mikayla Bryan, Parkersburg South High School.
* Third: Kandi Alltop, South.
11th
* First: Ellie Roberts, PHS.
* Second: Rylee Waggoner, South.
* Third: Kamryn Sallee, South.
10th
* First: Nate McPeak, PHS.
* Second: Hannah Vanlue, South.
* Third: Anna Ware, South.
Ninth
* First: Samantha McKinney, South.
* Second: Jillian Ward, PHS.
* Third: Emily Winter, PHS.
Eighth
* First: Riley Kerns, Edison Middle School.
* Second: Dharma Dillon-Fountaine, Edison.
* Third: Rylinn Stull, Hamilton Middle School.
Seventh
* First: Alaina Parsons, Jackson Middle School.
* Second: Izzy Earley, Edison.
* Third: Savannah Burdick, Edison.
Sixth
* First: Aleah Gibson, Blennerhassett Middle School.
* Second: Analeigh Bennett, Edison.
* Third: Cheyanne Rummer, Jackson.
Fifth
* First: Aleena Johnson, Williamstown Elementary School.
* Second: Mia Butterford, Emerson Elementary School.
* Third: Jensyn Stump, Williamstown.
Fourth
* First: Kennedy Curtis, Jefferson Elementary Center.
* Second: Jace Riffle, Vienna Elementary School.
* Third: Gracie Uhl, Neale Elementary School.
Third
* First: Zaikiyah Jackson, Jefferson.
* Second: Brooklyn Pando, Jefferson.
* Third: Hazel Flowers, Jefferson.
Those attending Sunday voted for the People's Choice award, which went to Brayden Stephens of Jackson Middle School.