RUMFORD — A photograph of a single, fallen leaf partially covered in snow, and taken by a Mountain Valley High School student, is one of 20 to be used as screen savers on 70,000 school laptops in Maine.

Junior Whitney Ruff was among nearly 300 students from across the state who submitted entries. She photographed the leaf behind the high school.

“I liked how gently the snow was on the leaf. You could see the snow particles,” she said.

Ruff, a Rumford resident and first-year photography student, was pleased that her art was selected by the judges of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative.

“It was cool,” she said.

Her photography teacher, Steve McGinty, was also pleased that one of the seven or eight photographs submitted by his students was chosen.

“I think it’s awesome. I’m thrilled that one of my students was selected,” he said.

Ruff was honored for her work at a schoolwide assembly Tuesday afternoon.

Her photograph, along with the 19 others that were chosen, will be on school laptops from July 2011 until July 2012.

Ruff is now interested in signing up for Advanced Photography in the fall.

“I like the independence of photography,” she said.

Her photograph, as well as dozens of other pieces of art created by McGinty’s art students, will be on display during the high school’s annual art and music show on May 5.