LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A student at the Arkansas Virtual Academy (ARVA) earned first place in the photography category of the 19th annual national K12 Art Competition .

Officials with the ARVA announced on Friday that seventh grader Jacob Weisenfels captured his winning image, “The Screech Owl,” at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro.

The photo features a close-up of a screech owl, showcasing Weisenfels' eye for detail and appreciation for the natural world, according to officials.

Formerly known as the K12 Photography Competition, the 2025 K12 Art Competition expanded to include physical art, digital art, and photography categories.

Officials said the competition provides a national platform for students to showcase their c

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