Submitted by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History
Three Harrison County students were among recently announced winners in the annual Congressional Art Competition.
Lauren Seti, of Bridgeport High School, was a first-place winner, while Caleb Roselius, Robert C. Byrd High School was a second-place winner and Connor Buffington of Bridgeport High School was a third-place winner.
Their work is on display in the Balcony Gallery of the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, in Charleston until April 30.
Nine young artists were selected as winners. The exhibition is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH), in partnership with the West Virginia Congressional Delegation.
On March 4, WVDACH Museum Director Charles Morris and Exhibits Coordinator Laiken Blankenship welcomed guests and introduced Susie Azevedo, representing Congressman Alex Mooney, and Teri Booth, representing Congresswoman Carol Miller.
First-place awards were presented to Lauren Seti, Bridgeport High School, Harrison County, District 1; Jaelyn Perry, Nitro High School, Kanawha County, District 2; and Kendra Fischer, Spring Valley High School, Cabell County, District 3. The first-place winners received a $100 gift certificate from Dick Blick Art Materials, and their work will represent West Virginia in a yearlong Congressional Art Competition exhibition at the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
An additional three second-place winners and three third-place winners received awards – Caleb Roselius, Robert C. Byrd High School, Harrison County, District 1, 2nd place; Sadi Painter, George Washington High School, Kanawha County, District 2, 2nd place; Gracie Hines, Webster County High School, Webster County, District 3, 2nd place; Connor Buffington, Bridgeport High School, Harrison County, District 1, 3rd place; Malakai Smith, Nitro High School, Kanawha County, District 2, 3rd place; and Elsa Meade, Huntington High School, Cabell County, District 3, 3rd place. Second-place and third-place winners received a $50 gift certificate from Dick Blick Art Materials.
The Congressional Art Exhibition consists of 140 pieces by 110 students, grades 7-12, from 12 West Virginia counties.
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual-art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. The competition is sponsored by members of the United States Congress.
