Nansemond River High School sophomore Natalie White says she was “very shocked” to learn she won the Best in Show award at the annual Suffolk Sister Cities Young Artists and Authors Showcase.

“It caught me off guard,” she said. “It was really exciting, though, also.”

White won the contest with her painting “Universal Woman.” She used the form of a woman to display a universe made up of smaller parts embodied in one being.

“I’m really into drawing figures and bodies,” she said. “I thought about connections with the theme, and I thought of stars and how they connect.”

White received her award at a reception at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, where the exhibit included more than 100 works created by students.

“I’ve been into art for as long as I can remember,” White said. “I’ve always been interested in art, but recently, around eighth grade, is when I started doing projects and actually making art that looked good.”

White, who is 16 and plays field hockey at Nansemond River, said she is considering a career in the art field.

“It would be fun to continue doing something I like,” she said.

The show also included painting, drawing, mixed media, photography, computer-generated art, poetry and essays.

First place in the poetry contest went to Ria Khandpur, and first place for essay was awarded to Cole Dignard. Both Khandpur and Dignard are from Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.

All three winning works will be forwarded to the Sister Cities International competition being judged in San Jose, Calif., this summer.