The 16th annual High School Visual Arts Competition, or Merriam Art Show, is underway and 10 students from De Soto High School have been accepted into the show.

Out of the 10 students to be accepted six of the qualifying participants are seniors. Seniors Rhiannon Caldwell, Emily Campbell, Emily Churchwell, Nelsey Contreras, Courtney Goodin and Jordan Whitaker are the participating seniors in this art show.

In 2011, Whitaker won first place in the drawing category with her piece “Economic Lockdown,” and at the 2012 League Art Show Caldwell won a blue ribbon on her three dimensional piece “High Step,” which will be featured in the Merriam Art Show.

Juniors Elizabeth Henderson, Kristen Karleskint, and Shelby Philbrook will represent the junior class at the show and sophomore Morgan Stonestreet is the only sophomore from DHS to be accepted.

This year 22 schools and 818 works where submitted, but only 17 schools and 129 works have been accepted. Opening night will take part on Dec. 13 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, and the exhibit will be open to the public through Jan. 4, 2013.