On April 17, according to Chairman Charles Neal, the committee gave a total of $13,000 to 20 talented students. Neal explained that his committee had organized the successful Take Your Pic event on April 9, to raise extra funds for the awards.

Guests purchased tickets for $100 that entitled them to cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, and the choice of a piece of art donated by 72 participating artists.

Art League President Rose Patterson welcomed guests, thanked the donors who made the awards possible, the Art League Board for its support, the staff of two people who look after the membership of 675, and the many hardworking volunteers who made the reception possible.

Patterson noted the many talented and gifted students, 69 in all from seven schools in Collier County, who had submitted 207 pieces of their work. Students were juried on three pieces of their work that exemplified their talent, and they also had to indicate a desire to pursue education and a career in the visual arts.

Patterson told the students they were all winners and added that she was relieved she wasn't on the committee as the high quality of work submitted would have made a choice very difficult. Those choices had been the responsibility of Neal, Maria Waine and Don Mills.

Maya Molina-Araujo of Barron Collier High School won the first place, $2,500 scholarship for her sculpture and paintings. Her three-dimensional, life-size figure Eve, assembled from palm fronds and other natural components, also won a $500 award from the Collier County Teachers Association. Molina-Araujo's father accepted her awards in her absence as she was called to a family emergency. She has already been accepted at the Parsons School of Design.

Phong Phan of Lely High School won the second place award of $2,000 for paintings and the third place $1,500 award went to André Denis of Gulf Coast High School. Denis' painting Cure also won a $500 award from the Collier County Teachers Association for a two-dimensional work.

Lisa Blacklidge of Barron Collier High School won the Emil and Gail Fisher Award of $1,000.

Charles Horn, Art League board member, presented the $1,000 George L. Hess Award to Lindsey Clark of Barron Collier High School.

LaVonne Johnson presented Jacquelyn Rawlings of Gulf Coast High School with the $500 Glen and LaVonne Johnson Award.

Vanessa Lai, of Gulf Coast High School received the $500 Robert and Jane Laird Award from Jane Laird.

Maria Waine presented the $500 Paul and Maria Waine Award to Robert Bender of Naples High School.

Lisette Brunckhorst, Barron Collier High School, and Maribel De La Rosa, Naples High School won $250 Honorable Mention Awards.

The following students were given $300 Merit Awards: Jacob Camp of Naples High School, Melissa Conway of Barron Collier High School, Jacquelin Frank of Barron Collier High School, Theresa Fusco of Barron Collier High School, Elizabeth Grabiel of Gulf Coast High School, Mitchel Leonard of Naples High School, Jamie Magnus of Community School of Naples, Alexes McLaughlin of Barron Collier High School, Tamara Miller of Gulf Coast High School, and Kirstin Osterberger of Naples High School.

Linda Cummings, fine arts coordinator for Collier County Public Schools, presented the awards from the Collier County Teachers Association.

During the reception provided and served by Art League volunteers, a jazz trio from Lely High School composed of students Sam Chacwick, Christian Logaglio, and Colby Peters entertained guests.