Competition: Student Art to Hang In U.S. Capitol

The U.S. Capitol is home to such famous pieces of art as “The Declaration of Independence” by John Trumbull and hundreds of sculptures and portraits of lawmakers like John Adams and Daniel Webster. Now you can add a painting from a local high school student to the collection.

Hope Martin of Battlefield High School in Haymarket won first place in U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly’s annual 11th District Congressional Art Competition. Martin’s charcoal work “Awestruck” will hang in the Capitol for one year.

Madeleine Bicker of received an honorable mention.

Second-place went to Brooke Sullivan of Paul VI High School in Fairfax; third prize went to Emilia Blaszkiewicz of West Potomac High School in Alexandria; Oakton High School’s Chan Song Yoon took fourth place and fifth place was awarded to Brianna Washington of Woodbridge High School.

The participants were honored with an award ceremony and scholarship award on Saturday at Lorton’s . More than 250 people attended. “The quality of the artwork by these students is exceptional,” Connolly said at the event. “While every artist couldn’t win the competition, all of these students should be proud of their submissions. I congratulate every student for their talent and effort, and commend every teacher for nurturing the talent exhibited in this competition.” 

All of the students’ artwork was displayed at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center for two weeks in April. 

Other Honorable mentions: Bryan Dunbar of South County Secondary School; Catherine Winings of Woodbridge High School; Angelina Namkung of W.T. Woodson High School and Jae-in Lee of Battlefield High School.

One-hundred-sixty-two pieces of art, submitted by high school students from across the 11th Congressional District of Virginia, were entered in this year’s contest and judged by accomplished artists representing the Arts Council of Fairfax County, Fairfax City Spotlight on the Arts, the Prince William Art Society, and the Lorton Arts Foundation. Connolly’s annual Congressional art competition is open to public, private and home schooled high school students in the 11th District.

Judging the contest were: Emily Hawes of the Prince William Arts Society;  Joanna Ormesher of the Fairfax City Spotlight on the Arts;  Amy Lust of the Lorton Arts Foundation;  and Lillianne Milgrom of the Arts Council of Fairfax County.  Connolly thanked the staff at the Lorton Workhouse, the judges, and the teachers and parents who motivate the young artists, for their dedication to the arts.