March is Youth Art Month, whose purpose is to emphasize the value of art and art education for all children. It is also to encourage public support and awareness of quality school art programs. Artwork from participating Ocean County schools was judged during February.

The Ocean County Youth Art Month local winners are Katrina Zangrillo, first grade, and Miranda Spinelli, fifth grade, from H.C. Johnson Elementary School, Jackson, teacher Karen Blenner; and Rob Zangrillo, junior, and Jon Balog, senior, from Jackson Memorial High School, Jackson, teacher Bobbie Allaire.

The winning works of art will be on display at the State House in Trenton during March. A reception will be held on March 7 from noon to 1 p.m. for high school students and from 5-7 p.m. for elementary school and middle school students.

They will also be honored at a local reception on March 3 from 2-4 p.m. at the Jackson library. The local reception will honor all participating students, their families, art teachers and guests who support art education. The exhibit will represent students' work from all of Ocean County and run from March 1-31. The exhibit is sponsored by the Art Educators of New Jersey.