Ellison Announces Congressional Arts Competition Winners

Press Release

Ellison Announces Congressional Arts Competition Winners

Congressman Keith Ellison hosted the 28th Annual High School Congressional Arts Competition Arts Education Forum on Monday evening, May 11th, at the Perpich Center for Art Education (PCAE) in Golden Valley.

A total of forty six pieces of student artwork were submitted by twenty seven art teachers from sixteen schools in the 5th District. Schools competing included: Southwest High School (Minneapolis), St. Anthony High School, Hopkins High School, Fridley High School, Phoenix VOA High School (Minneapolis), De La Salle High School (Minneapolis), Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, Blake School (Minneapolis), P.E.A.S.E. Academy (Minneapolis), Edison High School (Minneapolis), Columbia Heights High School, El Colegio High School (Minneapolis), Interdistrict Downtown School (Minneapolis), Spring Lake Park High School, Perpich Center for the Arts (Golden Valley), and Academy of Holy Angels (Minneapolis).

"I am proud of all of the students who participated in this year's Arts Competition. The creativity exhibited by these young artists is truly inspiring. The diversity of techniques, styles, and perspectives reflected through these talented young people are a real tribute to the value of arts education in our schools," the Congressman said. "They all are winners in my book," Ellison stated.

Certificates of participation were awarded to each student by the Congressman. The following awards were presented:

1st Place - Erik Larson (Grade 12) of Southwest High School. Larson's artwork will be featured for one year in a national art exhibit in the corridor leading to the United States Capitol. There will be a formal Art Ribbon-Cutting ceremony in the Capitol which will be attended by Erik and his parents. Ms. Cecily Spano is Erik's art teacher at Southwest High.
2nd Place -. Yubi Park (Grade 11) of St. Anthony Village High School. Yubi's artwork will hang in Congressman Ellison's Washington, D.C. office for one year. Park's art teacher is Ms. Sarah Weiss.
3rd Place -Anne Lee (Grade 11) of Southwest High School. Ms. Lee's artwork will be exhibited in Congressman Ellison's District Office for one year. Anne's art teacher is Ms. Mina Leirwood.
Two Merit Awards were added to the competition this year and were given to: Taylor Lindgren (Grade 12) of Southwest High School and Christopher Green (Grade 11) of Fridley High school.
Honorable Mentions went to: Derek Barnett of Robbinsdale Armstrong High School; Tom Blackburn of Academy of Holy Angels; Austin Dressen of The Blake School; Katy Eng of Perpich Center for Arts Education; Ashley Ranee Genadek of Columbia Heights High School; Ben Kessler of The Blake School; Frank Licari of Perpich Center for Arts Education; Kristina Lovaas of The Blake School; Shane Peckham if Fridley High School; Andreana Saunders of The Blake School; Maxeem Young of P.E.A.S.E. Academy; and Cindy Zhang of The Blake School.

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