Today, U.S. Congressman Michael Burgess (TX-26) announced the winner of the fifth annual 26^th Congressional District art competition, “An Artistic Discovery.” A freshman at Richland High School in North Richland Hills, Jennifer Mundhenk, won first prize in the 2007 competition with her mixed media piece entitled “Aim for the Spotlight.” Jennifer is the daughter of Vickie and Brian Mundhenk and an art student of Victoria Peloubet. The art competition was open to public, private and home-schooled high school students attending schools in the 26^th district.

“This contest is designed to highlight the artistic achievements of our local high school students and to share the results of those talents with our area and the rest of the country,” Congressman Burgess said. “Jennifer’s work makes the 26^th District proud. She is a talented young woman with a tremendous gift.”

Jennifer’s work will be displayed in the United States Capitol complex for the coming year. A ribbon-cutting ceremony opening the national 2007 “An Artistic Discovery” exhibition will take place in Washington, D.C. on June 28^th. The ceremony will honor the winning artists from congressional districts all over the country.

Congressman Burgess honored all the participating student artists at a reception recently at the Center for the Visual Arts in Denton hosted by the art competition’s co-sponsor, The Greater Denton Arts Council. The juried competition was judged by Dr. Sara Wilson McKay and Mr. Keith Owens; both are assistant professors of art education at the University of North Texas School of Visual Arts.

Three Honorable Mention winners were also selected by the judges and announced at the Denton reception: Morgan Bentz and Kendra Arrington, both representing Richland High School in North Richland Hills and Susie Seo, representing Ryan High School in Denton. In addition, this year’s contest marked the inauguration of the “Congressional” and “Texas Choice” awards; Congressman Burgess and staff selected the entry of Kelly Palma, a student at Guyer High School in Denton, to be publicly displayed in Burgess’ Lewisville district office for one year. Reception attendees voted on their favorite for the “Texas Choice” award, which will hang for one year in Burgess’ Fort Worth district office. The artwork submitted by Terra Henderson of Lake Dallas High School was selected as the winner. “Congratulations are in order for Jennifer, Morgan, Kendra, Susie, Kelly and Terra for their achievements,” said Burgess.

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. Congressman Burgess was pleased to bring this worthwhile program to the high school students of the 26^th District and looks forward to next year’s competition.