Above: Elisabeth Morales stands with her winning artwork. Her charcoal still life won first place at the Mississippi Community/Junior College Art Instructor Association (MCJCAIA) exhibit in the Drawing category.

Elisabeth Morales, an art student at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Jackson County Campus, won first place at the Mississippi Community/Junior College Art Instructor Association (MCJCAIA) exhibit in the Drawing category.

Currently a sophomore, she entered her artwork in the contest based on a recommendation from her art instructor, Marc Poole. “Mr. Poole suggested I enter my still life, which was a charcoal I had worked on in class. He said it had the potential to win,” she said. “I really didn’t think it would, though, and was very excited when I heard it had won.  It means a lot to me.”

After completing this semester at MGCCC, Morales plans on entering the Air Force Reserves and then transferring to The University of Southern Mississippi. “I am excited and maybe a little scared about this next phase of my life,” she said. “But art will always be a part of whatever I do.”

Morales is one of two Jackson County Campus students to win first-place awards at the MCJCAIA competition this year. Freshman Joshua Edgar won first place in the 3-D Design category. The announcement of Edgar’s win was made last month.

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