Chloe Lyn Johnson, a junior at Upper Columbia Academy, won the grand prize in the Washington Apple Education Foundation's 13th annual Year of the Apple art contest. The grand prize award was a $1,000 savings bond and the opportunity to have her painting published in the 2009 Dow AgroSciences wall calendar.

Representatives from the WAEF presented the prize at a student assembly at UCA in front of an audience of more than 200 classmates and family. She was given a ceremonial "big" check for her prize. Her winning oil painting showcases Gala and Golden Delicious apples that she painted during her sophomore year at UCA.

In addition to her prize money, the UCA art department received a $100 grant for art supplies.

"I was so surprised," says Johnson. "I had no idea, but when they got up front, I thought 'it must be me, I don't know anyone else from UCA that entered the contest.'"

The Year of the Apple selection committee chose Johnson's artwork from among 400 entries. Winning artwork from other entries and previous years can be seen at the WAEF Web site at www.waef.org.