LA GRANDE — More thaa 200 students from 14 high schools showcased their work at the Eastern Oregon Regional High School Art Exhibit.

The exhibit, which opened Friday, Feb. 21, at Eastern Oregon University’s Nightingale Gallery and runs through March 14, is a celebration of student creativity and the educators who support them, according to public information representative Michael Dakota. Nightingale Gallery Faculty Director Cory Peeke presented four students with Best of Show awards.

“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,” Peeke said. “And I would also like to congratulate the art teachers who go above and beyond to make this event the success it is each year.”

La Grande High School’s Eleanor Gisi received the Best of Show award for 12th grade for her acrylic painting “Red Landscape,” while Baker High School’s Riley Hurliman took the 11th grade award for a the painting “After Matthius Maius.”

McLoughlin High School’s Kenna Kinzer won the 10th grade award for the mixed media piece, “Alice” and Powder Valley High’s Brielle McCrae received the ninth grade award for the digital photograph “Beyond the Keyhole.”

Best of show winners were awarded a certificate, a $50 gift card to Dick Blick Art Supply, an EOU Art Department sketchbook and an EOU tote bag.

The La Grande Arts Commission also recognized students from La Grande High School with two awards. The commission awarded Kallin Burgess the Best of Show for “Wrapped in Wonder” and Eloise Bjork the Judges’ Choice for “Thief.”

Four regional art centers — Art Center East, Crossroad Carnegie Art Center, Pendleton Center for the Arts and Josephy Center for Arts and Culture — also presented awards.

The winners of the Art Center East Excellence in the Arts Awards were:

• Union County: 11th grader at Union High School Liberty Albers for “Cozy Cabin” (ceramic sculpture)
• Grant County: 10th grader at Grant Union High School Lilly Paddock for “Lill Berries” (fused glass)
• Harney County: 12th grader at Crane Union High School Cielo Valdez-Celis for “To Catch a Sunset” (painting)

Crossroads Carnegie Art Center presented its Outstanding Baker High School Award to Baker High School’s senior Hannah Lay for a ceramic sculpture “God of the Sea.”

Pendleton Centers for the Arts handed out the PCA Award of Distinction to Pendleton High School’s senior Alyssa Oertwich for a digital photograph “Self Portrait.”

Josephy Center for the Arts and Culture presented its Wallowa County High School Best of Show Award to Enterprise High School’s Ezra Storlie for a graphite and charcoal piece titled “Carved by the Road.”

Nightingale Gallery is located in Loso Hall at Eastern Oregon University, 1 University Blvd., La Grande. The gallery is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.