By DEBRA HAIGHT

Special to Leader Publications

BUCHANAN — The artwork of middle and high school students from 10 area school districts was honored this weekend at the Buchanan Art Center. Cash prizes and certificates were handed out to several students Sunday at the artist reception for the annual exhibit.

The cash awards for the students were once again sponsored by Niles dentist Dr. Richard Beckermeyer and his wife, Cindy. The couple have sponsored events at the art center for several years, along with their support of numerous other area organizations. The art center also gave out a scholarship to an art center class.

For students, the annual art show not only gives them a taste of what it is like to have their work on exhibit but also what it means to have their art judged by practicing artists. For this show, artists Clare Hoinville and Susan Sutherland Barnes were the jurors.

Center Executive Director Danielle Welborn and Education Director Marie Remington presented the awards. Welborn said jurors looked for originality, creativity, composition, design, content, message and attention to display. She noted that students should not feel bad if their work was not chosen for honors as “jurors pick different things on different days.”

Remington echoed this sentiment and said she has known artists whose work was rejected in one show but got top honors in another. As for this show, she said she was very excited to see the quality of the work.

“I’ve been doing student shows for many years and I’m very excited about this one. It was a knockout,” Remington said. “All of the artwork should be appreciated. It takes a lot of time, effort and courage to put yourself out there to be judged and if you weren’t picked, it doesn’t mean you should give up.”

Displaying student artwork has become a longtime spring tradition for the art center through the years. The center began by showcasing the artwork of just Buchanan students and then expanded to include Niles and Brandywine and now several other districts.

Participating school districts in this year’s exhibit, which closes Thursday, are Brandywine, Bridgman, Buchanan, Coloma, Eau Claire, Edwardsburg, Hartford, River Valley, St. Joseph and South Haven.

Two districts, Hartford and River Valley, sent artwork from both middle and high school students while Bridgman and St. Joseph just sent middle school artwork.

Cash prizes for middle school students were $50 for first place, $30 for second and $20 for third. Winners were Zane Runkel, of Upton Middle School, first place; Amelia Pipik, of Upton Middle School, second; and Ava Blasy, of Upton Middle School, third.

Cash prizes for high school students were $100 for first place, $75 for each of two second-place winners and $50 for three third-place winners.

Winners were Lauren Rakowski, Edwardsburg, first place; Daniela Delacruz, Eau Claire, and Harleigh Besaw, Edwardsburg, second place; and Mollie Harris, Delani Stull and Leo Rosales, all Edwardsburg, third place.

Middle school honorable mentions went to Ruby Pappette, Lilly Soule, Elissa Frappier and Anna Weber, Upton; Maritza Ramon, Jennifer Sarco and Vanessa Delarosa, Hartford; David Tipton and Naylanna Kendle, River Valley; and Hailey Robbins, Buchanan Virtual Academy.

High school honorable mentions went to Maya Schuhknecht, Angelina Warnke, Kayla Karn and Cora Schau, Buchanan; Maya Ankenbruck, Liv Rickett and Kyra Harr, South Haven; Cielo Overton, Eau Claire; Sydney O’Brien, Edwardsburg; Supawish Siranarakul, Hartford; and Shyle Short, Brandywine.

Besides the student art exhibit, student artwork will also be on display this Friday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Buchanan High School for the 23rd Annual Empty Bowls Soup and Chili Supper. Empty Bowls raises funds for the Redbud Area Ministries’ Food Pantry.

Buchanan students from preschool through high school participated in making bowls and other pottery for the supper fundraiser. The cost for the supper is $5 for adults and $3 for students in middle school and younger.