A variety of beautiful artwork was on display at the Lincoln Center when the Downers Grove Junior Womans Club presented art awards to local seventh and eighth grade students April 27.

The Junior Womans Club sponsors a Junior High Art Contest each year, open to all seventh and eighth grade students in Downers Grove. The 2010 contest had 31 entries, which were judged by Sally Salvato of the Downers Grove Art Guild and artist Soo Chang of Chang Fine Arts. Community Bank of Downers Grove donated the monetary awards.

Best in Show overall was awarded to Lakeview Junior High seventh grader Samantha Cho for her oil pastel painting, Flowers Amid.

First place for seventh grade was awarded to Natalie Heniff from Avery Coonley School for her oil painting, Cute Dog in a Chair; first place for eighth grade was awarded to Alexa Simos from Avery Coonley for her pen and ink drawing, The Great Warrior.

Second place for seventh grade went to Angie Martino from Lakeview Junior High for her watercolor, Once in a Blue Moon; second place for eighth grade went to Meghan Keaveny from St. Joseph School for her acrylic painting, Lighthouse.

Receiving third place for seventh grade was Marwa Choudry from Lakeview Junior High for her drawing, Tragedy; receiving third place for eighth grade was Katie Portman from Avery Coonley for her pen and ink drawing, Scarecrow.

Receiving honorable mentions were Amanda Walsh from Avery Coonley for her photograph, Two Different Worlds; Dana Hughes from St. Joseph for her Exacto knife entry, Felix; and Jessica Stacko from Lakeview Junior High for her clay sculpture, My Gizzmo.

The students artwork will be on display at the Downers Grove Public Library through May.