For her two pieces selected for Suffolk Art League’s annual showcase of student art, Imani Junious cites two sources of inspiration pretty distinct from one another.

“Welcome Home, Daddy,” is inspired by her love for her father, who has served in the Navy for about 22 years.

Junious presented the detailed pencil drawing, depicting him looking thoughtful in his uniform, to her father when he returned home from an eight-month deployment. “The day he got off the ship, I had the picture waiting for him,” she said.

The India Arie song “I Am Not My Hair” inspired her second piece — also done with pencil — which Junious titled, “I Am Society.”

“It’s my sister, but it’s different features,” the King’s Fork High School student said of the piece that was named best in show Tuesday among 97 artworks by 86 students.

“It’s basically saying everyone is different, but deep down we are the same.” she added.

The Exhibit of Excellence: Suffolk Student Art 2015 had its opening reception and awards presentation at Suffolk Art Gallery on Tuesday. Most exhibiting artists attended, enjoying pizza at the end of the program.

Linda G. Bunch, executive director of exhibit presenter Suffolk Art League, said the event is older than the gallery itself. The first installment was held in the Birdsong Recreation Center, she added.

“We want to showcase the talents of our students,” Bunch said. “We have incredibly talented students in our school systems, and we want the public to know that.”

Supported by the Suffolk Fine Arts Commission, the event also gives students the experience of planning and preparing for a juried exhibition, as well as going through the jury experience.

This year’s juror, Anne Bousquet, is an artist, teacher and graphic designer in Norfolk.

“Obviously, with our space, there is no way we can hang 282 pieces of art,” Bunch said, referencing the combined number of works from the 141 students who entered this year. Each entrant was required to submit two works.

The competition is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors who attend school in Suffolk, or live in the city but travel to school elsewhere.

The exhibit continues at Suffolk Art Gallery, 118 Bosley Ave., through Feb. 27.

Besides Junious, other award winners included Nansemond River High School’s Diamond Parker, first place with “A Mother’s Love”; Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s Holly Reina, second place with “Pedal On”; and Lakeland High School’s Dominique Simmons, third place with “Study.”

Honorable mentions went to:

• Eliza Coxe, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
• Samantha Flannery, King’s Fork High School
• Nikia Gregory, Nansemond River High School
• Dylan Kania, Nansemond River High School
• Bridget Murphy, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Juror’s Choice awards went to:

• Carroll Breslauer, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
• Cody Edwards, Nansemond River High School
• Paige Moore, King’s Fork High School
• Kaitlin Werner, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
• Buddy White, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Other students exhibiting work in the show are as follows:

King’s Fork High School

• Elizabeth Cherry
• Taylour Davis
• Naiyhani Etheridge
• Caroline Flynn
• Cedric Holley
• Gina Kissell
• Emma Marston
• Kaitlyn Newcomb
• Mikaela Renee’ Ponton
• Mary Pruden
• Jerry Scott
• Reanna Scott
• Josiah Sidberry
• Jamal Taylor

Lakeland High School

• Francesca Callander
• Emily Foster
• Giovanni McGlone
• Hart Parker
• Cheyenne Salmon
• Ariel Sclerno

Nansemond River High School

• Kendall Beatty
• Danielle Caballero
• Maya Copeland
• Taylor Fontenot
• Shelby Holland
• Jennifer Kleps
• Jamie Lentini
• Maia Micou
• Marissa Rexroad
• Mikaela Shivley
• Lauren Snow

Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

• Taylor Berard
• Chandler Bergeron
• Gustave Berner
• Victoria Bridgeman
• Eleanor Burcham
• Paige Christiansen
• Gabriella Cui
• Drew Edwards
• Olivia Elliott
• Hunter Foster
• Elizabeth Fowler
• Joshua Gabri
• Brooks Gillerlain
• Madison Glynn
• Caileigh Gold
• Allison Gottlieb
• David Gough
• Caitlyn Hannah
• Christina Hayden
• Sarah Higinbotham
• Kaitlin Hoagland
• Mallory Hobson
• Catie Hopkins
• Yagiao Hu
• Eric Huffman
• Allison Johnson
• Jordan Jones
• Sylvie Joyner
• Clare Kelly
• Cassie King
• Kathryn King
• Lindsay Knierbein
• Hannah Koppelman
• Holly Kozak
• Alison Lones
• Hallie McConnell
• Thomas Meyer
• Bridget Murhpy
• Kaeli Oliver
• Addison Peak
• Nathan Soper
• Laura Whiteman