Visitors look at the art during the reception Friday for the annual Butler County High School Art Exhibit at The Art Center. The exhibit continues through May 6.

The Associated Artists of Butler County announced the winners of the annual Butler County High School Art Exhibit to a standing room-only crowd Friday at the exhibit opening.

During the opening night ceremonies, AABC President Paul Scanlon praised both the art teachers and students, noting that the teachers are more important than ever, as businesses need the creativity, innovation and ability to think outside the box taught in art programs.

With more than 400 art entries, a record setting mark, by 218 student artists this year, judge Heather Hertel of Slippery Rock University commended the students for the quality and creativity of their work.

She also praised the students of Holly Bly from Butler Intermediate High School for their collaboration in creating the large “Rhino” sculpture gracing the front window of The Art Center.

Best of Show was garnered by Jesse McKinnis of Butler Senior High School (teacher: Jon Pugliese) for “Illustrations for a Textbook.”

Mars High School student Abby Iksic won the professional art supply kit donated by AABC as a door prize for art students who attended the opening.

Participating high schools included: Butler Intermediate and senior high schools, Karns City High School, Knoch High School, Mars High School, Moniteau High School and Seneca Valley Intermediate and senior high schools.

Participating teachers are: Carol Berteotti, Karns City; Holly Bly, Butler Intermediate; Megan Bonistalli, Seneca Valley Senior High; Erich Campbell, Butler Intermediate; Diane Geist, Knoch; Rita Johnson, Mars; Doug Kamer, Knoch; Britta Manges, Butler Intermediate; Jon Pugliese, Butler Senior High; Jason Shorr, Seneca Valley Senior High; Eric Sloane, Mars; Anne Wilson, Butler Senior High; Heidi Wirtner, Moniteau; and Jason Woolslare, Seneca Valley Intermediate.

The students who won first place in each of the following categories will receive free AABC membership:

Drawing• First place, Maggie Myers of Butler Intermediate for “Pathway”• Second place, Megan Kunst of Butler Intermediate for “Motorcycle”• Third place, Kaitlyn Crimbchin of Knoch for “Enviro-Identity”• Honorable Mentions: Megan Scott of Seneca Valley for “Pages of the Rainbow,” Jessica Kotchkey of Knoch for untitled; Robert Specht of Moniteau for “It's All About You,” Greg Leysens of Mars for “Self Portrait,” and Jacob Brown of Mars for “Angry Lady.”

Painting• First place, Alexa Seibert of Mars for “Puddle”• Second place, Cara Bishop of Mars for “Greg Wanted A Sandwich”• Third place, Jackie Harris of Seneca Valley for “3 Stone Mask”• Honorable Mention: Justin Smith of Seneca Valley for “Leaf Blown.”

3-D and sculpture• First place, Emma McKee of Seneca Valley for “Dragon Helmet”• Second place, Jenna Morrow of Knoch for “Peacock”• Third place, Breanna Zbiegien of Seneca Valley for “Accidental Matisse”• Honorable Mention: Lynzy Groves of Karns City for “Sic Semper Tyrannis.”

Printmaking• First place, Colleen Lunney of Seneca Valley for “Saturday Morning Cartoons”• Second place, Nicole Eaton of Seneca Valley for “Mirror?”• Third place, Paula Lockwood of Seneca Valley for “Morgan”• Honorable Mention: Cara Bishop of Mars for “Stoop Kids.”

Mixed media/collage• First place, Sarah Holzer of Seneca Valley for “What Came First?”• Second place, Cara Bishop of Mars for “Suppressed Housewife Goes Shopping”• Third place, Paula Lockwood of Seneca Valley for “Self Portrait”• Honorable Mention: Ali Hutchinson of Butler Intermediate for untitled.

Photography/digital art• First place, Alexa Seibert of Mars for “Caged”• Second place, Jessica Smeisler of Mars for “Blade”• Third place, Mark Davis of Seneca Valley for “Shades of Fall”• Honorable Mentions: Allison Zang of Butler Intermediate for “Rachel” and Tiffany McElroy of Karns City for “Aged Dogwood.”The high school art exhibit will remain on display through May 6.Gallery hours of noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays.Upcoming events at The Art Center include the AABC 76th annual spring show and sale opening May 13 and “The Art of Sound” Underground Gallery exhibit which opens May 27.Entry forms for all exhibits can be downloaded at this site: www.aabcArtCenter.com.