Sherri Bakos said she wasn't surprised when her daughter Jennifer entered the Art Contest sponsored by the Federated Woman's Club of Los Altos.
"She loves to paint," Bakos said. "Anytime there's any kind of contest, she has to participate."
Bakos said the surprise came earlier this month when she discovered her Almond School first- grader's depiction of dolphins swimming in front of a sunset had won first place in the Los Altos School District, first place at the regional Loma Prieta District contest, and will be entered in the state competition this May.
"She was competing with third-graders," Bakos said proudly.
Fourth-grader Amasa West Warner will also compete in the state competition.
"There were really some spectacular pieces. It's amazing what they can do," said Doe Melrose, art chairman for the Los Altos woman's group.
Melrose said the woman's club started the competition five years ago to help supplement the Los Altos School District's curriculum.
This year's district-level winners include: Olivia Drobny and Katelyn Stangi, honorable mention for first grade; Mike Riso, first place for second grade; Bradley Green and Michelle Boyers, honorable mention for second grade; Jessica Lundaren, first place for third grade; Sam Vesuna, honorable mention for third grade; Elise Tarens, first place for fifth grade; Maria Romanousky, honorable mention for fifth grade; Cari Levay, first place for sixth grade; and Kentaro Mizuyama, honorable mention for sixth grade.