MIDDLETOWN — Many people enter drawings to win a prize; once a year, a group of kids actually draw to win.

        Nearly 100 area students spent an hour at Middletown Fine Arts Center recently, sketching feverishly for the chance to earn free art lessons. These contestants in the Young Artists Scholarship Competition were chosen from a pool of more than 500 on the basis of earlier drawings.

        The students were divided into two groups: grades 1 through 4, and grades 5-12. Each student was given a numbered sheet of paper and access to supplies.

        “There were between 10 and 15 still lifes set up for them, or they could draw anything that's in the room,” said Arlene Klafter, the Fine Arts Center's young artist workshop instructor. “They could also work from their imaginations, but using the still lifes is better, because it's easier to judge the work on its merits.”

        This year's judge was Stacey Wilson, an art instructor for Monroe Elementary.

        “The kids are always very, very nervous, and we have to cover up the windows looking into the room so their parents can't watch them,” Ms. Klafter said.

        Ms. Wilson said she was impressed at what the young people produced in the hour they were given.

        “A lot of them just took my breath away,” she said. “The younger ones had a true sense of color and a good sense of composition. The older ones were not afraid to push their ideas, and put thought and character into their drawings.”

        First-place winners, who received scholarships for 30 weeks of instruction, are Marguerium Bush, Matthew Taormina, Steve Marshall and Miriam Newell of Middletown; Mandy Cifuentes and Katie Conley of Trenton; Elayna Hawkins of Seven Mile; Kevin Cherko and Brittany Everitt of West Chester; and Sara Pollock of Hamilton. Alex Haas of Middletown placed first in the ceramics division.

        Second-place winners, who receive 20 weeks of instruction, are: Alexis Schmidt and Marissa Schmidt of Springboro; Cody Huston of Trenton; Jenny Ng and Katie Ng of Cincinnati; Jess Couch and Emily Frisch of Middletown; and Nicole Brewer of Monroe.

        Third-place winners receive 10 weeks of classes. They are: Laura Getz and Jessica Crichfield of Middletown; Lynda Lucas of West Chester; and Margot Decker of Hamilton.

        Ricky Davis, Ellen Dennis and Justin Curtis of Middletown received honorable mention. They receive a two-week summer term.

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