Ashland, Mont. --- St. Labre Indian School junior Shelby's hands shake as she opens the letter from the Heard Museum Guild with mom Deb. Her smile widens as she squeals the words, “First place blue ribbon in, division three, beadwork.”

The Heard Museum Guild of Arizona began hosting the American Indian Art Show & Sale event 19 years ago. In recent years, more than 1,000 pieces, in 13 categories, from some 650 artists representing dozens of tribes, in at least a dozen states, have been received.

Shelby, a first time entrant, labored for nearly 200 hours on her Crow traditional cradleboard under the watchful eye of beadwork instructor Phillipe Franquelin.

“At times I would grow tired of beading the background because it was all the same color,” Shelby said. “Mr Franquelin would inspire me to keep remembering what the finished project was going to look like.”

Invitations are sent to high school and junior high school art teachers, asking them to submit their students’ artwork to the show. According to Franquelin, this is St. Labre’s third consecutive year submitting and second year for taking the blue ribbon. Preston Gardner took first place in 2006 for fully beaded Crow moccasins.

This isn’t Shelby’s first time receiving recognition on behalf St. Labre. Shelby was first praised in middle school for a science project that focused on Native Americans with diabetes, garnering her state and national science awards. Shelby also toured the powwow circuit as Junior and Senior Miss St. Labre.

Shelby’s Heard Museum blue ribbon also includes a monetary award of 60 dollars and an invitation to attend the eighth annual Heard Museum and Arizona State University student art workshop in Phoenix this June. The workshop, lodging, and meals are provided, but Shelby must provide her own air travel.

“It is an honor to represent my school and my Crow culture,” Shelby said. “I can’t wait to meet the other chosen students at the workshop.”

Shelby’s cradleboard garnered $1,800 at the Heard sale. Shelby will earn 80 percent of the profits. The other 20 percent remains with the Guild to help fund cash prizes, defray the costs of the show, provide school grants for classroom art supplies, and support a workshop for participating student artists.