Zebras by Wendi Freeman, grade 11, DeSoto High School.

Art by Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois high school students will be exhibited through February 24 at the University Museum.

The work has been assembled by art teachers throughout the region. Juror Jay Clayton, a high school art teacher for 27 years, has picked 63 of the 349 entries to exhibit and has awarded prizes. Clayton, a Southeast graduate, teaches at Hillsboro High School.

Awards will be made at an opening reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Museum Gallery. The public is invited. Awards will be handed out at about 3 p.m.

The work includes sculpture, ceramics, fibers, photography, printmaking, drawing and painting.

The exhibit is dedicated it to Jake Wells, retired professor emeritus and chair of the Department of Art.

Dr. Edwin Smith, who has organized this 17th annual exhibit for the museum, said the entries "are reflective of good, solid programs in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. They reflect some quality teaching."

Smith said both the quality of the art and the number of entries have improved since the exhibition's inception. "A lot of real fine pieces are in the reject pile," he said.

The museum is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and by appointment in the evenings and on weekends. For more information, phone (314) 651-2260.