ROYAL — Royal High School junior Edgar Montoya is one of five students in the state to win the Jury's Choice Award at the 34th Annual Superintendent's High School Art Show.

Montoya is being honored at a reception in Olympia May 18.

Last semester was Montoya's first semester in art, said teacher Michael Holmes.

The winning clay sculpture Montoya created, titled "The Balance," depicts two bears back-to-back. One bear holds a fish and the other bear holds an ax. It stands 12 inches tall and took several weeks to complete.

"I thought he had a great idea," Holmes said.

Nearly 120 entries were submitted to the state competition, said Educational Service District No. 105 Public Information Officer David Goehner.

The piece was purchased for $200 by the state Board of Education. It is on display at the foyer of the state superintendent's office in Olympia.

A picture of Montoya's sculpture and the other winning pieces are included in an art show calendar distributed by the state for 2007 to 2008, Goehner said.

"It's a very amazing and intricate piece," said state superintendent office's Program Supervisor For the Arts AnnRene Joseph. "It's thought-provoking and it's whimsical at the same time. You really have to look at it from different angles to take it in."

Goehner said this is the third time of the past four years a Royal High School sculptor won a prize at the art show. In 2006, Sonia DeLaRosa won an award for a cat sculpture, and in 2004 Daniel Hector won honors for a dog sculpture.

Montoya's sculptor was entered in the state competition after being named a regional award winner for the Educational Service District No. 105 High Regional High School Art Show, Goehner said.