NATCHEZ  — Allie Stewart became Cathedral High School’s first artist to place in the top five in the Junior Duck Stamp competition in April.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hosts the Junior Duck Stamp competition each year.

The competition winner’s duck painting is printed on a collectable $5 stamp.

All proceeds go to the recognition and environmental education of students who participate in the program.

Stewart, 18, spent five weeks preparing for the competition.

After carefully laying down a blue water background, drawing her duck and then transferring it onto the background and finally spending hours getting each feather just right, Stewart’s masterpiece was ready for judging.

However, she did not fully expect the good news she received.

“I found out that I won first place and best of show in Mississippi, and then a few weeks later, I got called over the intercom to go to Mrs. (Andree) Gamberi’s room as soon as possible,” she said. “I went in there thinking I was in trouble, but she was jumping around and screaming that I placed fifth in the nation. I think she was more excited than I was.”

Gamberi was Stewart’s art teacher and offered instruction on the duck paintings as well as on other projects completed throughout the year.

This is not the first year Stewart has experienced success in this particular competition.

“Last year, I placed third in the state,” she said. “I thought that was about as good as I would get.”

That proved not to be the case this year. Stewart earned the highest award in the competition from Cathedral.

In Gamberi’s 17 years teaching art, she said two students placed in the top 20, and she is proud of how far Stewart went.

“I’m just thrilled,” Gamberi said. “I have no control over the judging whatsoever. Every year I just hope the people who actually judge the painting look at these and choose wisely. Obviously they did this year.”

Stewart said the toughest part of the painting was perfecting the feathers.

“You have to put water on the brush to do the feathers,” she said. “It helps get the texture just right.”

Stewart credits her success to her art teacher, and plans to continue enjoying art as a pastime.

“I’ve always liked to doodle and draw, but Mrs. Gamberi brought out my artistic ability,” Stewart said. “I’m not going to school for art, and it obviously won’t be my career, but I think I will always do it as a hobby because it is definitely something I like doing.”

Stewart will be attending the University of Louisiana-Monroe in the fall to major in marketing, and expects the creativity she learned in her art classes to help her in her future endeavors.

She is the daughter of Kristie Stewart and Butch Stewart.