Samantha Shepard’s ceramic “Autism Awareness” won Best in Category at the 2013 Manteca Unified School District’s Best of the Best Art Show and Sale.The original art work is meaningful not only on a personal level for the Sierra High School senior but is significant in more ways than one as well. Her interpretation of the symbol for autism – a puzzle within a puzzle – was inspired by her 27-year-old uncle who is autistic. She also intended the three-dimensional art work to raise public awareness to this development disorder which affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills.Shepard, who was the recipient of the 2013 Clarese Anderson Memorial Art Scholarship Award given by the Manteca Federated Women’s Club, made her award-winning ceramic sculpture to give as a gift to her mother in honor of her autistic brother.