Department Head: Cheri Jorgenson
cjorgenson22@yahoo.com
Please Note: Individual students should not make application for entries. Their respective teacher shall submit entries. For registration information, email Cheri Jorgenson at cjorgenson22@yahoo.com.
Online registration is due Friday, August 28, 2026. The Exhibition will be on display during the Tennessee Valley Fair, September 11-20, 2026.
Limited to students grades 6th - 12th, attending public, private, or home schools in Knox, Anderson, Union, Grainger, Jefferson, Sevier, Blount, Loudon and Roane counties (2025-2026 school year). Selections for entry are made in the schools and award selections are made by a competent jury. Winners will be notified by mail and teacher e-mail. The Student Art Exhibit Committee work closely with art teachers who use this competition for student recognition and evaluation.
Premiums for Class 1
Best of Each Lot
$50.00
Best of Show*
$500.00 Post-High School Education Scholarship
All entries will be eligible for this award for which the artist will receive a Post-High School Education Scholarship (given after the student is enrolled in college).
The teacher of the student awarded Best of Show will receive a $100.00 gift certificate from Jerry's Artarama of Knoxville.
Premiums for Class 2
1st - $15.00 2nd - $10.00 3rd - $7.00
Three (3) Honorable Mention Ribbons
Premiums for Class 3
Best of Show
$1,000.00 Post-High School Education Scholarship
1st - $15.00 2nd - $10.00 3rd - $7.00
Three (3) Honorable Mention Ribbons
The teacher of the student awarded Best-of-Show will receive a $75.00 gift certificate from Jerry’s Artarama of Knoxville.
Class 1
Lot
01 - Best-of-Show $500 Scholarship
02 - Best Painting $50
03 - Best Sculpture $50
04 - Best Print $50
05 - Best Drawing $50
06 - Best Photograph $50
07 - Best Digital Photograph $50
08 - Best Ceramic $50
09 - Best Mixed Media $50
10 - Best Digital Artwork $50
Class 2
Lot
01 - 6th grade
02 - 7th grade
03 - 8th grade
04 - 9th grade
05 - 10th grade
06 - 11th grade
07 - 12th grade
Class 3 - Congressional Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest honor an individual serving in the United States Armed Forces can receive. The Medal of Honor is bestowed by the President of the United States in the name of Congress and represents the following: Courage, Integrity, Selflessness, Sacrifice, Citizenship, Patriotism.
The Tennessee Valley Fair invites teachers to enter their student's photo, 2-D or 3-D piece that you and the student feel represents the core values and ideals of the Medal of Honor. Students are required to include a brief statement (100 words maximum) on how your artwork is related to the topic at online registration due Friday, August 28, 2026.
Lot
01 – Photograph
02 – 2-D Rendering
03 – 3-D Rendering
The 50th Anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Fair Student Art Show will be recognized with an exhibition of the Best of Show Winners at the Knoxville Museum of Art from October 23 - December 13, 2026.