FAYETTEVILLE -- About 100 images, all depicting the theme of community by young photographers, line the halls of the first floor of the northwest classroom building at the High School.

Deja Hogue, 16 and a junior in Suki Highers sociology class, said her photo represents "a fresh new start every day."

She photographed a sidewalk at ground level with a sunrise in the background. If a person has a bad day one day, there is a better day coming, she said. That's her vision of community.

Other student photographs depicted sporting events, churches, schools and sites in Fayetteville. The exhibit was for parents Thursday evening.

Alexa Carrington, 18 and a senior, photographed her church -- Central United Methodist Church -- as a symbol of where she grew up, she said.

"It's my second home since I was 3 years old," she said, adding she's involved in several activities at the church.

"My community is friendly, caring, like a second family," Carrington said.

The exhibit is a project that grew out of Highers' interest in the community. She's a fellow in the Arteachers program at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. She also is a member of the Adopt-A-Classroom project at the University of Arkansas where she's paired with Kevin Fitzpatrick, a sociology professor.

Highers wanted to establish a relationship with the university and wanted her students to have hands-on experience with sociology.

"I wanted them to do sociology to go out in the community and use what they learned in class," she said.

Fitzpatrick said the project is a good complement to his own study of community.

"I've been thinking about this project for five or six years and knew the perspective from youth was missing," he said. "The goal was to create awareness for the kids, more focus on understanding where they are. Community is a central concept in sociology."

Students could submit up to three photographs, including a title and brief description. A panel of teachers at the high school judged the best from each of Highers' classes. The winning photos comprise the exhibit.

Elijah Thomas, a 17-year-old senior, photographed an abandoned cabin in Fayetteville representing the communities he left behind. He has lived in Fayetteville for about four years with his father. He previously lived in Knoxville, Tenn., and Wausau, Wis., with his mother.

The best part of the project was learning about what other students do, Thomas said. "The photos showed me a lot of fun stuff," he said.

Jakayla Blackburn, 18 and a senior, also photographed her church -- First Assembly of God near Walker Park.

Community to her means "good relationships, organization and communication."

"I think Fayetteville is a good community," she said.