Emily Martinez of Burns High School won Best of Show with her painting “Resign”.

The Eastern Oregon Regional High School Art Exhibition featuring 200 works by students from 14 regional high schools opened Friday, Feb. 23, held at Eastern Oregon University.

Awards were presented for exemplary work by students in grades 9-12. All Best of Show winners received an award certificate, a $50 Dick Blick Art Supply gift card, and a sketchbook from the EOU Art Department as well as an EOU t-shirt, and other EOU swag compliments from the Office of Admissions. Honorable Mention recipients received a certificate of award.

Best of Show 12th Grade: Alsea Morton (La Grande High School) for their watercolor painting “Dawn Chorus”

Best of Show 11th Grade: Emily Martinez (Burns High School) for their painting “Resign” and their drawing “Welcome & Goodbye”

Best of Show 10th Grade: Kegan Bott (Baker High School) for their painting “Old One”

Best of Show 9th Grade: Brittain Combs (Powder Valley High) for their painting “Darth Vader”

For the 16th year, the La Grande Arts Commission presented two awards to students from La Grande High. Their “Best of Show-La Grande High Award” went to Grayson Helmer for their painting “Misanthroapologist.” Their “Judges Choice Award” went to Griffin Gorham for their sculpture “Metal Tentacle Frame.” The LGAC award winners were selected and presented by La Grande Arts Commissioner Taylor Scroggins. Their Best of Show Award comes with a gift basket worth $200 and the Judges Choice Award comes with a gift basket worth $100.

Four regional art centers joined the La Grande Arts Commission in presenting special awards. Art Center East presented an “Excellence in the Arts-Union County” award to Hadlee Wallace, a 10th-grade student from Union High School for their ceramic sculpture “Heart,” and an “Excellence in the Arts-Harney County” award to Emily Martinez, an 11th-grade student, from Burns High School for their painting “Resign.” Each award comes with an ACE miniature collage kit.

“On behalf of the EOU Art Department and the Nightingale Gallery I would like to congratulate the winners and all the students with work on view,” Nightingale Gallery Director Cory Peeke said. “I would also like to congratulate the art teachers who go above and beyond to make this event the success it is each year.” The following is a list of those area teachers.

Baker City High School – Holly Coleman 

Burns High School – Emily Kokesh 

Cove High School – Eric Gustavson 

Echo High School – Rick Thew

Elgin High School – Beth Wasley

Enterprise High Schools – Dianne Pfel

Joseph Charter School – Jennifer Hawkins

La Grande High School – Rich McIlmoil

McLoughlin High School (Milton-Freewater) – Marianne Smith Monument High School – Erica Cade

Pendleton High School – Abby Prevot

Powder Valley High School – Jessie Street

Union High School – Jaime Gustavson

The 2024 Eastern Oregon Regional High School Exhibition runs through March 15. The Nightingale Gallery is located in Loso Hall on the campus of Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, OR. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m to 4 p.m.