Image: Ninth grader Tetyana Hollandsworth from Norfolk Collegiate School in Norfolk, Va., won the grand prize in the annual art calendar contest at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.

NASA's reach extends from outer space to hundreds of millions of homes and schools.

Students near NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., have used art and their imaginations to illustrate some of the aerospace agency's contributions and potential contributions. The youngsters were part of an annual NASA Langley art contest that resulted in a limited edition calendar "NASA 2009/All Around Us: From A to Z."

NASA Langley asked schools and home schools to submit one entry per grade level, kindergarten to 12th grade. Contest rules stated artwork had to be original work, done without the help of a computer, that illustrated one of six NASA themes: aeronautics, earth science, space operations, future space exploration, people who work for NASA and benefits of NASA research and technologies.

"We started the contest last year to celebrate NASA's 50th anniversary," said contest organizer Katrina Young. "It was so successful that we're trying to make it a yearly event. We found not only does the calendar contest excite the students to learn more about how NASA uses inspiration, innovation and discovery to build a better world. It also excites a lot of adults to see NASA's missions through the eyes of the youngsters."

"We had about 300 entries from around Hampton Roads," said Young. "That's more than triple the number we had last year."

NASA Langley and its partners at the Virginia Air & Space Center (VASC) awarded 96 prizes: a grand prize and 12 first place prizes, as well as certificates for second and third places and honorable mention. The grand prize included the cover of the calendar, admission passes to the VASC, a tour of NASA Langley and other rewards. First place winners' submissions are also included in the calendar. All of the artwork that appears in the calendar will also be on display at the Virginia Air & Space Center until the end of the year.

"We're proud to hang the artwork of these outstanding students and support NASA's mission to inspire the public about aerospace exploration, science and technology," said Megan Steele, VASC director of marketing and public relations. "That's an important part of our mission too as NASA Langley's official visitors' center."

A panel of five judges, including a NASA Langley graphic artist and a local art instructor, judged the entries, based on originality, interpretation of subject matter/theme, creative techniques, composition and overall artistic appearance.

A complete list of winners will be posted on the Internet after the ceremony. For more information, check:

http://www.nasa.gov/langley

For additional information about NASA, please go to:

http://www.nasa.gov/