Randolph-Henry High School student James Bouie took top honors for his artwork during the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) Southern Regional Forum on April 25 at Heritage High School in Lynchburg.

Charlotte County School Board officials Larry Fannon, Henry Carwile, Jr., Gloria Talbott and Bill Devin, along with Division Superintendent Dr. Nancy Leonard attended the southern regional forum, according to a press release.

“They were treated to an impressive display of creativity and faced some tough decisions in selecting the 2017 winners of the Southern Regional Art Contest,” school officials said in a press release.

“Student art from the elementary, middle and high school levels represented the school divisions in the competition, which was judged at the regional forum by area school board members,” according to the release.

Bouie was the first place winner at the high school level. Claudia McMillan serves as James’ high school art teacher.

“James is an unbelievably talented young man,” McMillan said in the release. “He is prolific — drawing and painting constantly— giving a lot of his work to others. He has been a joy to teach and I know has a bright future in art.”

According to the press release, the VSBA Regional Art Contest was started in 1989 to promote the artistic talents of Virginia’s public school students.

“For each of the nine VSBA regions, a winner is chosen for the elementary, middle and high school levels,” officials said in the release.

“The winning art is framed and displayed in the offices of the VSBA in Charlottesville and the Richmond offices of the state superintendent of public instruction.”