Austin High School senior Nadia Carney celebrates winning the annual Artist of the Year award at the 19th annual AHS Art Award Assembly Wednesday. Carney plans to attend college in Colorado. -- Trey Mewes/trey.mewes@austindailyherald.com

Austin High School senior Nadia Carney didn’t expect to win the coveted Artist of the Year award at the 19th annual AHS Art Awards Assembly, but that’s exactly what she did.

“There’s so many deserving artists here,” she said.

Carney takes her art seriously, and she took home several Magnum Opus awards in painting. She had plenty of artistic acclaim this year, as one of her pieces is on display at the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul. She took away a Best in Show award at the annual Minnesota State High School League art show, the equivalent of a state championship, according to AHS art teacher Barry Brobeck.

“She just did some fabulous work,” Brobeck said.

Carney won a $900 scholarship as part of the Artist of the Year award, which she will use to go to college in Ft. Collins, Colo. this fall. She’s not sure what she wants to do after school, just that it will have to involve art.

Carney is one of many diverse artists at this year’s assembly. Brobeck said this year’s show encapsulated many styles of art, and there was no one particular focus.

“It was really individualistic,” he said. “They all had their styles. It was really fun to watch.”