Lawrence is full of talented artists whose work hangs in galleries, adorns street corners and fills private collections in homes across the community.

But it’s not just the pros who are churning out high-caliber art.

Want evidence? Check out these award-winning photographs and digital images by local high school students. These young artists have been busy this winter, tallying up awards and recognition in competitions throughout the state.

Rebecca Glass, a senior at Free State High School, was awarded the Kansas Art Education Assn. Youth Art Month Senior Scholarship. Glass’s digital image was selected from 25 entries to receive the $500 award. The piece is on display during March in the library on the third floor of the State Capitol.

Lawrence High School junior Kandice Hall’s photo “Stop Abuse,” snagged first place in the photography division of “An Artistic Discovery: 25th Congressional Art Competition” in Great Bend. “In Step,” a photo by LHS senior Maggie Barnes, took second in the same contest, and LHS senior Kelsey Starks’ “Quick from Jersey” came in fourth.

And Lawrence High School students made a strong showing at the Hays Arts Council’s Five State Photography Competition and Exhibition in February and March. Of the 32 photos submitted by LHS students, 19 made it into the professional show open to photographers in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado. Some even received merit awards.

“This is a professional photo competition – not a student competition,” says LHS photography instructor Angelia Perkins. “This means they were competing with professional artists currently in the field.”

Here’s a look at the award-winners and the names of their photos:

¢ Maggie Barnes, senior, “8:20”

¢ Elena Boeth, junior, “Self Portrait” and “Baby Bottle”

¢ Caitlin Bowlin, junior, “Evan,” Juror’s Merit Special Prize

¢ Samantha Claypool, junior, “Veteran’s Day”

¢ Katie Collins, senior, “Untitled” and “Untitled”

¢ Lilly Duermeier, junior, “Inhale & Exhale,” fourth place overall, $75 cash prize

¢ Kandice Hall, junior, “Day Dreaming” and “Looking Up”

¢ Ian Higbie, senior, “The Bygone”

¢ David Hughes-Pfeifer, senior, “From Scratch”

¢ Kara Kellison, junior, “Shelved Life,” Juror’s Merit Special Prize

¢ Kelsey Pike, junior, “Whisk #2,” “Violins” and “Pomegranate #3”

¢ Maggie Salvini, senior, “Introspective”

¢ Kelsey Starks, senior, “Bazooka Jane”

¢ Stefanie Ward, senior, “Makeshift Toybox”