The Women's Club of Lehighton honored Kelsey Binder, 18, with its annual student art award during its annual Spring Tea at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lehighton.

The award is presented to a senior female art student at Lehighton Area High School and includes a $100 college scholarship.Binder was nominated by Lehighton Area High School art teacher Michael Reenock."This award is for students who excel in the arts. She's a good student, and she's shown great potential and growth," said Reenock. "Everyone at school knows her as a self-driven person. That's what I was looking for."Binder will attend Kutztown University this fall with a major in art education and a minor in creative writing. She is the daughter of Jason Binder, also of Lehighton.Her current artistic focus blends her two interests, art and writing, into abstract paintings.During the Women's Club meeting she displayed several abstract pieces incorporating oil paintings and pen and ink on canvas.She then selected published poems and wrote this poetry on the canvas with pencil."I think art is more of a lifestyle than a career," she said. "If I can incorporate art into my life, I'll be happy."Kelsey's work will be shown alongside her fellow students' exhibits at the annual Lehighton Area High School art show from 5-8 p.m. Saturday in the Lehighton Area High School foyer