Rob Drinkard, chair of TroyFest 2013, presented check awards Tuesday to the teachers of the winners of the “Best of Show” awards in the 2013 TroyFest Student Art Competition.

The teachers of the student winners in each grade division received checks in the amount of $100 to be used for art supplies in their classrooms.

Jennifer Lindsey, Troy Elementary School, received the monetary awards for grades K-2 and 3-5. Jennifer Sullivant, Charles Henderson Middle School, received the monetary award for grade level 6-8 and Pam Smith, Charles Henderson High School, for grade levels 9-10 and 11-12.

Smith, TroyFest Student Art Competition coordinator, said that students in grades K-12 in all area schools, public and private, were invited to enter the annual student art competition.

The purpose of the TroyFest Student Art Competition is to encourage students to participate in the visual arts and also to encourage teachers to incorporate the visual arts into their courses of study, Smith said.

“The student art competition is also a way that TroyFest can support our local programs with the art show and through the donations to the classroom teachers,” she said.

“This year, more than 150 students took advantage of the opportunity to compete. There were several categories for entry, depending on the grade level. The categories included drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and computer design.

“In addition to the ‘Best of Show’ awards, ribbons were presented for first, second and third place in each category in each age division. So, there were a lot of winners.”

Drinkard expressed appreciation to CGI and the Johnson Center for the Arts.

“CGI donated the funds for the monetary awards and the Johnson Center provided the space for the art show,” he said.

Smith said that the students were exited to have their artwork displayed in an art gallery.

“The Johnson Center allowed us to use the main gallery and the students were very impressed that their artwork was exhibited in a ‘real’ art gallery,” she said.

Drinkard and Smith also expressed appreciation to all of those who visited the student art show in support of the talented young artists.