THE winners of this year’s Canberra Museum and Gallery Art Prize for Secondary Students were announced on Saturday.

The prize was launched during covid as a way for CMAG to remain connected to school audiences during that time through participating in a digital exhibition and was aimed at the elusive secondary school audience, an audience CMAG hopes will continue to grow in the future.

Students across 17 secondary schools, both public and independent, submitted a total of 108 entries capturing Canberra landmarks, candid moments of everyday life, and the changing moods of the city.

First prize of a $200 gift voucher in the Year 7-10 category went to Amelia Bobbin, a Year 10 student at Lyneham High School for her work “Bike Reflections”. While first prize, also a $200 voucher, in the Year 11-12 category went to Zachary Pyle, a Year 11 student at Marist College, for his photograph, “The Winter Walk”.

The competition, which challenged students to explore the theme of “Capturing Canberra” through digital photography, was inspired by CMAG’s current exhibition of Canberra photojournalism.

All the submitted images are currently on display in a special presentation box within the “Capturing Canberra” exhibition until January 28.

The full list of winners is:

Year 7-10 category

• Encouragement Award: Taali Dixon-Jain, Year 9, Campbell High School
• Highly Commended: Alice Rea, Year 10, Lyneham High School
• Second Prize: Dylan Lapthorne, Year 8, Mount Stromlo High School
• First Prize: Amelia Bobbin, Year 10, Lyneham High School

Year 11-12 category

• Encouragement Award: Hugh Cramer, Year 12, Burgmann Anglican College
• Highly Commended: Lachlan Wilson, Year 12, Radford College
• Second Prize: Charles Kimpton, Year 11, Marist College
• First Prize: Zachary Pyle, Year 11, Marist College