Students display artwork

Brook Denning and Austin Petersen-Hays, both seniors at Oak Park High School, will have their artwork exhibited at the "Expressions of Our Youth 2008" display running from March 13 through April 29 at the Ventura County Government Center in Ventura.

The exhibit is sponsored by Focus on the Masters and the Ventura County Arts Council, both nonprofit organizations.

The students are among the qualifying applicants in the annual Tamima AlAwar Memorial Scholarship Program which provides $2,500 in scholarships to high school seniors who plan to pursue art in college. The artwork of all scholarship applicants is part of the exhibit.

The scholarship recipients will be announced during the opening reception and awards ceremony on Thurs., March 13 at the County Government Center in Ventura.

Awards are based on artistic merit and commitment as demonstrated by the application, a portfolio, and essay.

The scholarship fund was established by an anonymous donor to honor Tamima Michele Al-Alwar, daughter of Khaled and Sheryl Al-Awar of Ojai. Before her death in 2002, Tamima planned to pursue a degree in fine arts.