Earlier this month, Ferrucci Junior High 9th Grade Student Celia Pierce placed first in a national student art competition emphasizing representation in the Deaf community. 

Sponsored through the American Sign Language Honor Society (ASLHS), the Chuck Baird Memorial Art Competition is a national Deaf art student contest. According to the ASLHS website, the contest's goal is to expose students to the artists, genres, and visual expressions of Deaf culture as expressed through art. Students create a visual representing American Sign Language (ASL) and the Deaf community. 

Pierce, also an Emerald Ridge High School ASL Student, submitted a digital drawing of a Deaf man mourning the loss of his dog. 

Click on the photo for an enlarged version of the art.

Pierce says the visual portrayal of the Deaf community is inclusive and learning ASL has benefited her education and become a part of her identity. 

"It is a great way to spread awareness and representation," Pierce said. "Being hard of hearing myself, I've always wanted to learn the language. It felt like a part of me I couldn't embrace very much—and now I can."

Learn more about other ASLHS competitions here.