At the end of the spring semester, several students at Concord High School and El Dorado Middle School were winners in the Michelangelo D'Onofrio Arts Foundation contest open to all students.

At Concord High, each of the three first-prize winners received a check for $50, while second-prize winners received a gold medal and third-place finishers received certficiates of outstanding achievement.

First-prize winners were Sierra Wheeler, ceramics; Vanessa Martinez, photography; and Lexi Russo, art and design.

Second-place prizes went to Brianne Dashner, ceramics; Sierra Wheeler, photography; Clementine Powell, art and design.

Third-place finishers were Faith Cao, ceramics; Breana DelCastillo, photography; and Alyssa Floyd, art and design.

The prizes were distributed at the school's annual Awards Ceremony by their respective teachers -- Joan Schnarr, art department director; Loralie Gohler, photo arts; and Warren Dean, art and design instructor.

At El Dorado Middle, the three eighth-grade winners were Evelyn McCollum, painting; Olivia Morris, drawing and illustration; and Phil Santamaria for computer-aided design, a newly added category.

Each received a check for $50, a gold medal, and certificate of achievement at the school's annual Awards Ceremony, and were presented by their respective teachers, Annie Luree Tal, Monica Ybarra and technology instructor, Christopher Tod.

The foundation was established three years ago

D'Onofrio's daughter and foundation vice president, Susan Bennett, said, "Our ultimate goal is to include as many schools in the East Bay as funds will allow."

To donate or have a local public school included in this year's competitions, contact D'Onofrio at joandonofrio@aol.com.