Dallas County High School junior Rayvon Burrell could help but smile Wednesday morning.

In his hand was a framed piece of artwork; artwork he had created and artwork that had just claimed first place in the Butterflies and Bridges Art Contest.

“I was just so excited when they told me,” Burrell, who wants to major in electrical engineering in college, said. “I love art, so this is really exciting.”

Burrell’s artwork, combining an image of the iconic Edmund Pettus Bridge and a brilliantly colored butterfly, will now be the image connected to the fourth annual Butterflies and Bridges run scheduled for April 16.

The run and art contest are part of a fundraising effort that goes to support the Selma City Schools athletic programs.

The art contest was open to students throughout Dallas County — not just Selma — which was apparent when looking at the list of overall and division winners.

Amari Drane of Bruce T. Criag Elementary School won the division one winner, which included primarily elementary school students.

Tipton Middle School student Freddy Walker claimed the division two category while Skylar Tucker, a junior at Dallas County High School, took the division three title.

In all 27 pieces were entered into the contest which was judged by a panel of art experts and enthusiasts.

The overall winner and the four category winners will join the rest of entries in being displayed soon at the Selma-Dallas County Public Library. The Frame Shoppe, one of the sponsors of the contest, provided the framing for the winning entrants and the matting of the remaining artwork.

One of the organizers, Bill Potter, said the annual run is becoming more and more popular and this year he and the other organizers are hoping for more than 150 runners to take part in either the 8K competitive race, the 2-mile fun run or walk.

The run will kick off at 8 a.m. April 16. The 8K race will begin at the Selma City Schools central office on Broad Street and take runners through portions of Old Town, across the Edmund Pettus Bridge before heading back to the office.

“We really have a good time with this and look forward to it each year,” Selma City Schools athletics director Patrick Evans said. “The proceeds go to the athletics programs as well as some other programs.”

In the flyer promoting the run, the funds specifically will got to “fund sports activities for all Selma City Schools; improve fitness and weight room facilities; provide summer camp opportunities; renovate the baseball fields and tennis courts behind Selma High School and build character through sports.”

Those interested can find registration information at Vaughan’s Wellness and Fitness Center, the Selma-Dallas County YMCA or any of the Selma City Schools and the central office on Broad Street.

As for getting a copy of Burrell’s winning artwork? Well, enter the race and you can find it on the T-shirt you get for entering.