A Vicksburg teen who attends the Mississippi School of the Arts in Brookhaven is a top regional winner in the 2010 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition.

Senior Kristi Ezernack, the daughter of Edgar Ezernack of Vicksburg and Rosemary Graber of California, received a Gold Key award in the contest, sponsored by The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, which recognizes achievements in the arts by students in grades 7-12

“I wrote eight poems for the general writing portfolio,” said Kristi. “I wrote about things that I know — like my family.”

She joins three other Vicksburg students who received Gold Key awards for their art — Warren Central High School seniors Kate Akers and Kyley Wells and junior David Young. Kate is the daughter of Stephen and Janet Akers; Kyley is the daughter of Krista Carter; and David is the son of Chris and Becky Young.

The Gold Key is the highest award at the regional level. Other regional awards are the Silver Key, Honorable Mention and American Visions & Voices, also called Best of Show. Twelve Warren Central students received Silver Keys and Honorable Mentions at the regional level.

The regional winners’ works will be on display through April 18 at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson. After that, the pieces head to New York City for the national contest.

The contest, which began in 1923, has seen 12 million students participate and $20 million in scholarships awarded.

The Mississippi School for the Arts is a visual and performing arts residential school for juniors and seniors.

Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com