The second annual Audubon Miami Valley Bird Art contest was held Saturday at Miami University inside Alumni and McGuffey Hall. The recognition ceremony included refreshments, prizes and a performance by Chris Rowlands of Aullwood Audubon Center. The exhibition of 270 entries from grades K –12 included art work in three categories, including realistic, graphic design and cartooning.

Students created the works using pencil, watercolor, color pencil, markers and construction paper.

Awards of Excellence, Merit and Participation, as well as certificates and folded origami birds, were distributed after being judged several weeks ago. Ten area teachers and schools entered: Mandy Tinstman (Eaton Middle School); Elise McWilliams (Hollingsworth East-Eaton); Jean O’Connell (Fairfield West –Elementary); Karen Shearer with Kramer Elementary Earth Club; Sean Oswald (Talawanda High School); Jan Hunsche (Talawanda Middle School); Liz Woedl (McGuffey Montessori); Jenna Rahrig (Morgan Elementary-Ross); and Nancy Wadleigh (Wildwood Elementary-Middletown)

The event was sponsored by the MU Architecture and Interior Design Department, Butler Rural Community Connection, Follett’s Miami Co-op Bookstore, Oxford Community Foundation, Oxford Presbyterian Church, The Kroger Company, Nelly Bly Cogan, Hardy and Barb Eshbaugh, Jim and Sarah Michael.