LINCOLN, R.I., Aug. 7 /EMWNews/ -- More than 325 students enrolled

in accredited fine arts programs in American colleges participated this

year in the second CROSS FINE LINES Scholarship Competition. The jury

consisted of representatives from The Museum of Modern Art, the Solomon R.

Guggenheim Museum, Danziger Projects art gallery, the Italian Cultural

Institute, as well as illustrators and CROSS executives. The jury has just

awarded the first place prize, a $5,000 scholarship, to Megan Eckman who

attends Minnesota State University at Moorhead. The three runner-up prizes

are being presented to Emily Smith of Claremont Graduate University,

Chelsea Fox of University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Dana Husted of Pratt

Institute. Twenty-five honorable mentions were also awarded.



    CROSS, based in Lincoln, Rhode Island, is America's oldest manufacturer

of writing instruments with a history that stretches back more than 160

years. According to Tom Peterson, Director of Global Brand Development for

CROSS, "Now in its second year, the CROSS Fine Lines Competition aims to

support the fine arts and specifically to acknowledge the students that use

pen and ink to create their compositions. With more submissions this year

than last, representing the achievements of students in every region of the

country, we are delighted to present Megan Eckman with the grand prize of a

$5,000 scholarship. The jury selected her illustration for its overall

excellence in perspective and execution. We congratulate her and all of the

winners on their exceptional illustrations."



    Mr. Peterson continues, "We will be showcasing Megan's winning

submission as well as the runner-up entries on our website. We are honored

to witness the wonderful quality of the illustrations that were submitted,

confirming the beauty of pen and ink drawing as a means of artistic

expression. We thank all of the students who participated this year and

wish them success in their scholastic and career endeavors."



    Winner Megan Eckman says, "It has meant so much to me to have my work

judged by critics in the art world. Not only has it given me a sense of

pride, but also the feeling that I can succeed in the art world after

college. This contest has reaffirmed my dream of becoming an illustrator

and a writer of illustrated books, and for that I cannot thank CROSS

enough. All identifying features of my illustration, such as the

hero/heroine's face and the background are missing, allowing the viewer to

fill in details as he sees fit. I was studying Japanese armor at the time,

and fell in love with their use of lacquered wood and patterned fabric as

defense."



    The CROSS website at http://www.cross.com is now exhibiting the winning

illustrations.