Way to go: John Doria, Massapequa

John Doria, a senior at Massapequa High School, recently won first place in the 2010 Nassau County High School Student Juried Art Competition & Exhibition coordinated by The Art Guild in Manhasset.

Doria's winning piece, "Plain and Simple Self Portrait," was a graphite self-portrait he created this summer as he looked into a mirror set on an easel a few feet away.

For winning, he received a $300 check at the exhibit's opening reception in October.

"This was a big deal, because it means all the work I put into it paid off," said Doria, 17, who added it took 20 hours to create the piece. "I've always liked art. I sketch whatever I see that looks interesting to me."

Doria said he created the self-portrait as an assignment for a portfolio development class he took this summer at the Art Students League of New York in Manhattan.

The Art Guild displayed dozens of the submissions in an exhibit at Elderfields Preserve in Manhasset that ended Nov. 13.

"He is a wonderful person and a hardworking student," said Barbara Mims, Massapequa's coordinating chairwoman for art. "He is so deserving of this recognition."

Doria is also a member of his high school's Art Club and Art Honor Society.