I am pleased to announce the finalists in the 2017 Congressional High School Art Competition. Since the U.S. House of Representatives created the competition in 1982, hundreds of thousands of talented high school students have served as artistic ambassadors of their communities.
This year’s juried contest was open to public, private and home-schooled high school students residing and/or attending schools located in the 26th Congressional District. The Grand Prize for the competition is the display of the winning student's artwork for an entire year in the U.S. Capitol. Also, the First Place winner will have the opportunity to have their artwork displayed in my Lake Dallas district office for the upcoming year.
The public was able to vote online for their favorite pieces in a virtual gallery on my website from Monday, April 10th through Sunday, April 16th. The artwork earning the most votes is named the "Texas Choice" winner and advances to the finals to compete for the Grand Prize and First Place. The 2017 "Texas Choice" winner is "Blooming Wood" by Ashlyn Brightly, a student at Flower Mound High School.
In addition, the Greater Denton Arts Council selected an art educator to judge the annual Congressional High School Art Competition. The art juror chose one artwork from each school for a "Best of School" award; as a finalist, they will have their artwork further considered for the Grand Prize and First Place awards. The judge also selected additional pieces for "Juror's Choice" awards, based upon their artistic merit, that will compete as finalists. Art teachers will deliver the finalists' artworks to either Congressman Burgess' district office or to the Patterson – Appleton Arts Center for in-person final judging by the art juror.
Competition finalists, their parents, teachers and school administrators are invited to attend a reception on Tuesday, May 9th, at 5:30 p.m. to view the "Best of Schools" and "Texas Choice" artwork on display at the Patterson – Appleton Arts Center. All the student finalists will be honored during the reception. The 2017 Grand Prize and First Place winners will be announced at the reception.
Please enjoy the 2017 Congressional High School Art Competition finalists' artworks below!
FLOWER MOUND HIGH SCHOOL
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BEST OF SCHOOL: Julia Adkins "Children of Kenya" |
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Chloe Bikman "Austin Dome" |
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TEXAS CHOICE: Ashlyn Brightly "Blooming Wood" |
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Minaal Farrukh "Badshahi Mosque" |
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Payton Gaskin "Identity Theft" |
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Skye Matlock "Dax In Grass Green" |
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Michaela Stavropoulos "Logan" |
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Max Woods "Martin Luther King Jr" |
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Julia Zafiridis, "Tuscan Tunes" |
LAKE DALLAS HIGH SCHOOL
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Francisco Balderas "Sunset Ocaso" |
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BEST OF SCHOOL: Sierra McKinley "Sickening Dreams" |
LITTLE ELM HIGH SCHOOL
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BEST OF SCHOOL: Carla Reza "Found Jewel" |
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Adam Young "The Road" |
MARCUS HIGH SCHOOL
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Rachel Curtis "Tired" |
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Emma Martin "In The Arena" |
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BEST OF SCHOOL: Dylan Vandergriff "Self Portrait" |
THE COLONY HIGH SCHOOL
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Samantha Adauto "Holding On" |
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BEST OF SCHOOL: Kylah Davis "Creativity Clutter" |
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JUROR'S CHOIC: Briana Petranek "Stretch" |
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
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BEST OF SCHOOL: Madi Butler "Festival Of Holi" |
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JUROR'S CHOICE: Sarah Mayhew "Mother Nature" |