The Mississippi Collegiate Art Competition, the annual event that recognizes artistic achievement by students at four-year colleges and universities in Mississippi, is coming to the Meridian Museum of Art beginning Saturday.

The awards reception for the competition will be held at the downtown museum on Saturday from 2 p.m.-4 p.m., with the awards announcements at 2:30 p.m.

Juror Susan Maakestad, professor of art at the University of Georgia, will be on hand to announce the winners, which will include Best of Show, three Awards of Excellence, and Juror’s Awards in each media category: clay arts, computer imaging, design, drawing, fiber arts, metal arts, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.

The exhibit features 105 works that were chosen by juror Maakestad from 782 entries. The works were submitted for the competition by students representing nine schools from across the state. To be eligible to compete, participants must be four-year college and university students (undergraduate and graduate) currently enrolled in a degree granting program in Mississippi. Students are not required to be art majors. All submitted work must be created during the student’s time of enrollment at the submitting school.

The artists with work in this year’s competition include: Michelle K. Allen (Millsaps College), Martin Arnold (Mississippi University for Women), Ashley Athas (Mississippi University for Women), Kathie Baeuerlin (Mississippi University for Women), Aneesha Baldeosingh (Mississippi University for Women), Amy Ballard (Mississippi University for Women), Luz Bonta (Delta State University), Quinlan Boyd (University of Mississippi), Chris Brady (University of Mississippi), Katie Casmon (Millsaps College), Christy Chapman (Mississippi State University), Dania Clark (Mississippi University for Women), Joely Corban (Mississippi College), Megan Dareing (Mississippi University for Women), Renada Davis (Mississippi College), Tripp Davis (Delta State University), Sarah Deason (Delta State University), Robyn Dulaney (Mississippi State University), Brian Earwood (Mississippi State University) Amy Evans (University of Mississippi), Paul R. Fayard (Mississippi College), Judy Ford (University of Mississippi), Amanda Francis (Mississippi University for Women), Andrew Franzo (Mississippi State University), Corey Freeman (Delta State University), Lauren Hankins (Mississippi State University), Beverly Hayman (Mississippi State University), Tina Hebert (Mississippi State University), Natalie M Hill (Mississippi University for Women), Rhonda Kinzer (William Carey University), Littrell Lane (Delta State University), Melissa Lee (University of Mississippi), McLeod Lester (Mississippi State University), Kristen Ley (Mississippi State University), Megan McGonagill (Delta State University), Bonnie McRae (Mississippi State University), LaCourtney Melton (Mississippi College), Page Miller (Mississippi State University), Kelsey Moran (Mississippi State University), Louis Mutch (Mississippi University for Women), Jimison Nelson (Jackson State University), Daniel Peeples (Mississippi University for Women), Lindsey Perkins (Mississippi State University), Robin Perkins (Mississippi State University), Louisa Porter (Mississippi University for Women), Lialah Putman (Mississippi State University), Blake Reynolds (Mississippi University for Women), Christy Roberts (Mississippi University for Women), Sarah Rose (Mississippi University for Women), Jason Sanford (William Carey University), Frances Scott (Mississippi State University), Nathalie Shields (William Carey University), Richard Swayze (Mississippi College), Lindsey Swopshire (Mississippi State University), Petra Vackova (Millsaps College), Kevin Voller (Mississippi University for Women), Melody Vydas (Mississippi University for Women), Jonathan Whitten (Delta State University), Shawn Whittington (University of Mississippi), Dustin Wilson (Mississippi University for Women), Nathan Wilson (Mississippi University for Women), Matthew Wood (Delta State University), Adam Yungbluth (University of Mississippi), and Yang Zhang (Mississippi College).

The 2007 Mississippi Collegiate Art Competition will remain on exhibit through March 10. The Meridian Museum of Art is located at 628 25th Ave., and is open Tuesday-Sunday, from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Admission to the Museum is free. For more information, call (601) 693-1501 or e-mail MeridianMuseum@aol.com.