NATCHEZ — Mila Robb didn’t imagine her artwork would earn her second place in the 5th Annual High School Art Exhibit Saturday at the Natchez Visitor’s and Reception Center.

There to claim her victory, the 16-year-old sophomore from Trinity Episcopal Day School held her artwork, “Path to Nowhere,” close to her heart to take in an achievement that she could not fathom.

“I named it that as a joke,” Robb said. “Because I didn’t think it would get anywhere.”

Robb’s artwork featured a road venturing off into nothingness, which she made out of a collage of magazine pictures.

“Most of the process was planning and trying to find the material,” Robb said.

Robb said her family went on a trip to Colorado, where she was able to take a picture of the vast landscape.

Robb’s father, James Robb, was pleased with his daughter’s work.

“I’m extremely proud,” James said. “I’m a pre-licensed architect, and I’ve had a little dabble in art quite a bit. So it’s good to see the apple not fall far from the tree.”

Robb said although she enjoys art, she is looking into English as a career in the future.

Trinity art teacher Susannah Heatherly was in attendance to cheer Robb on.

“I’m very proud of her,” Heatherly said. “She worked hard and did the project after being inspired while traveling to Colorado.”

Robb said she plans to do another magazine collage art piece next week at Trinity.

The Natchez Art Association, which hosted the event, invited more than 25 regional high schools to participate in the art exhibit competition.

Art teachers from Natchez High School, Trinity Episcopal Day School, Adams County Christian School and Vidalia High School answered the call and submitted their student’s artwork so they could have the opportunity to participate in an adult style exhibit, Art Association member Carolyn Weir said.

Vidalia High School student Heather Weeks, who won first place, was not in attendance.

Winners include:

4First place, Heather Weeks of Vidalia High School — “Take on Impressionism”

4Second place, Mila Robb of Trinity High School — “The Path to Nowhere”

4Third place, Dustin Henderson of ACCS — “The Fishing Hole”

Honorable mentions:

4Michalea Hutchins of Trinity — “The Fishing Hole”

4Donisha Edwards of Natchez High School — “The Eye”

4Gracym Nelson of Vidalia High School — “Calm Harbor”

4Angelica Luttrull of Vidalia High — “One Girl, One Soul, One World”