Art Contest "Beautiful Montana"

Grand Prize: $500

Runner Up: $300

Bronze Medal: $200

HAMILTON, Mont. - Students from high schools throughout the Bitterroot showcased their artistic talents in ATR's Beautiful Montana art contest.

Young artists submitted 85 entries to create a diverse collection celebrating Montana. They included written narratives to explain their pieces.

ATR provides software systems to improve worker safety in high risk industries. The Houston, Texas, company, with a branch office in Hamilton, awarded $1,100 to top prize winners.

"We wanted them to share their hearts and their personal experience," said ATR owner Elliott Lander. "It was a wide-open canvas, the mountains, rivers, valleys, the rocks and canyons," he said. "We had a wide variety of opportunity for kids up and down the valley."

Corvallis High School student Mary Royce took first place for her artwork. She was awarded $500 for her interpretation of "Beautiful Montana."