There's nothing better than a little recognition, especially when there's $100 involved.

Today, dozens of undergraduate students interested in the arts will have their sculptures, paintings, photographs and other works critiqued by New York curator and art critic Franklin Sirmans in the Zoller Gallery's annual Undergraduate Juried Exhibition.

The pieces Sirmans selects from the student works will be placed in a student exhibition that will run in the Zoller Gallery from Monday to Feb. 10. In addition to the exhibition, five of the students selected will receive a $100 gift certificate for arts supplies.

While a cash prize is always a beautiful thing, Zoller Gallery head Michelle Tillander said she feels the opportunity students are given to display their art is more important.

"It's a really wonderful opportunity for them to get feedback from someone other than their instructors and peers," Tillander said.

Tillander added that a gallery exhibition is also good experience for students who have only shown their work in classes.

"Working in a studio and then exhibiting work in a gallery spot is a completely different experience," she said. "Here, students really get a chance to collaborate with each other."

Yet the fact still remains that each piece will be judged individually by Sirmans. The reality of this can be somewhat daunting for students who are new to the show and don't know what to expect.

Ron Longsdorf (junior-sculpture) said he's a little worried about how the judge will critique his sculpture exhibition.

"I just want to set it up the way that he wants to see it," Longsdorf said.

A veteran to the show, Hillary Cook (senior-painting and art education) said she did not know what to expect when she first submitted her work as a sophomore.

"I was just starting out and I really didn't know what was going to happen with my artwork," Cook said.

As it turns out, one of her pieces was selected to be in the final exhibition.

Nathan Pankratz (senior-painting and art education), another first-timer to the show, said he expects to see an eclectic mix of artwork to be presented in this exhibition.

"You don't have to just be good at drawing to be an artist; you can be good at video or photography," Pankratz said. "This is really open to anyone, so it's a chance for everyone to get their work exhibited."