From competition entries of over 750 works, 63 finalists were selected to exhibit alongside AWA Master Signature and Signature members in the first competition exhibition east of the Mississippi River.  The show hung from October 10 through November 8, 2009 at South Street Art Gallery in Easton, Maryland.
 
Awards totaling over $10,000 were made to six finalists of the AWA Juried Competition; seven finalists received Award of Merit Awards.  The winning artists were selected by a jury of AWA Master Signature and Signature members and include the following:

Best of Show: (left)    Wanda Choate, TN
Runner Up (2-D):          Valerie Craig, PA
Runner Up (3-D):          Lori Norwood, KS
Award of Recognition:     Elizabeth Pruitt, KS
Rogue Guirey Simpson Memorial Award:                                               Dawn Emerson, OR
                                                   Get on the Web Award:   Deon Matzen, WA

Awards of Merit: Toni Doilney, CA, Michele De Branganca, CA, Mary Dennis, OR, Yan Tian, WA, Banjie Getsinger Nicholas, CT, Pat Rohrbacher, OH, Lani Browning, VA
 
2009's National Competition is the tenth competition that AWA has organized during its 14 years of existence. 
 
The group also presented a series of five Demonstrations by Master Signature and Signature members on October 11 and 12.  Those presenting included Nancy Boren, Joy Kroeger Beckner, Colleen Howe, Karen Crain, Bethanne Kinsella Cople.  Carol Swinney presented a Demonstration November 9. 
 
The 2010 National Competition Exhibition will be held in October 2010 at Southwest Gallery in Dallas, Texas. The prospectus will be available online at www.americanwomenartists.org