After Tialeah Bundy submitted a piece in the New Hampshire Institute of Art’s national drawing competition for high school students, she became one of 111 artists chosen out of 212 to have a drawing exhibited.

But that wasn’t the only honor she received. Bundy, 18, a West High School student from Bedford, was one of only 14 entrants who won a scholarship during an awards ceremony on Saturday, March 21, at the exhibition.

“I honestly didn’t expect it,” said a thrilled Bundy, as friends hugged and congratulated her.

A maximum value of $72,500 in scholarships to the Institute’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program and Pre-college Summer program were awarded at the event, which drew about 250 people.

Bundy was the Art Education Award winner; one of seven department awards. The $1,000 gift is renewable up to five years for a maximum of $5,000.

This is the fifth year the Institute has hosted the nationwide, juried competition. Laurel Sparks, a faculty member at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University, selected this year’s winners.

“It’s been gaining momentum over the years,” said Katie Berger, the New Hampshire Institute of Art’s public relations manager. “Every year, we get more and more entries and people attending.”

The competition, she said, is beneficial to art students who are looking at attending art schools and want to add an honor to their resumes.

Bundy’s piece, “Reading,” about 14 inches by 20 inches, is a drawing of her boyfriend. She spent three or four weeks using graphite to create it.

“I like seeing other people’s reactions and looking at other pieces,” said Bundy, who would like to become an art teacher. “I see compositions I never would have thought of putting together.”

Like others at the exhibit, she’s studied a variety of art subjects in high school, including drawing, computer graphics and painting.

Her parents, Donna and Dave Bundy, are proud of her work, saying she’s “come a long way” during her four years at West.

The exhibition runs until Friday, April 3, and features a variety of media, including charcoal, pencil, markers, colored pencil, oil pastel, and pen and ink. This year, students from 13 states were represented.

The artwork can be seen at the Institute’s French Building Gallery at 148 Concord St., and its Amherst Street Gallery at 77 Amherst St.

“I think it’s amazing how talented these kids are,” said Donna Bundy.

Students were allowed to enter only one piece in the competition.

Eleven students from West High, including six from Bedford, were among the artists chosen to have their artwork displayed. Several of them said they want to pursue art-related careers after high school.

Bedford’s Kristina Pervanas, 18, is interested in fashion design and is looking at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, and Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia. She’s also waiting to hear if she’s been accepted to Massachusetts School of Art.

Her piece, “Midnight Snack?” was the culmination of four nights of work and is based on a kitchen cabinet at home. She finished the piece around midnight the night before it was due.

Another senior from Bedford, Tyler Street, 18, submitted a self portrait he calls, “Bored in Math Class.” It shows Street with a sheet of Algebra equations. “It’s my expression on how I view math – pretty boring,” said Street.

Has his math teacher seen it? “She saw it,” Street said with a smile. “She liked it.”

Street has been drawing since he was a kid and plans to attend Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla.

“I just really like (art), and have a passion for it,” he said. “Once I start an art piece, it’s hard for me to stop.”

Other works submitted by Bedford students that were displayed include “My Baby Shoes,” by Lindsay Dubisz, “Fading Beauty,” by Brie Gobel, and “Life,” by Allison Pelletier.

West High students from Manchester whose work was exhibited include April Alterisio- Gagnon, Alicia Boisvert, Kiersten Hounsell, Vivian Lee and Andres Onoa.