Three students from Jane Harlow’s art classes at Bartlesville High School earned awards earlier this week in a contest sponsored by the Hispanic Outreach Celebration. In the contest, students were asked to design "Day of the Dead" altarpieces.

Junior Rachel Adams took second place with an altarpiece dedicated to her grandmother. "I was surprised to finish in second place," said Adams. "It was fun putting things together about my grandmother since I learned things about her that I did not already know."

The altarpieces were designed to feature items which helped to represent the people who they honored. Thus, an altarpiece by BHS senior Cody Riff, which earned him an honorable mention award, featured a prominent guitar design as it saluted storied musician Jimi Hendrix. "It is exciting just to be recognized for work I have done," said Riff. "I chose Jimi Hendrix because he was a great musician and a great person to look up to."

Senior Dawn Parrett took fourth place with an altarpiece focused on her grandmother. Each of the students took home prize money – $30 for second place, $20 for fourth and $10 for honorable mention – as well. "I was pleased just for winning something," said Parrett, "but I was especially pleased when I received money as well."