After spending time with Alicja and her father, Walter Slabecka, Schakowsky said, “Alicja Slabecka is an extraordinary young woman -- an inspiration. She came to America only two years ago from Poland and has already made her mark. She speaks English beautifully, is an honor student, maintains a job, and pursues her passion - creating art. With her talent and ambition and personality, Alicja is well on her way to a successful artistic career.”

An Artistic Discovery is a national art competition designed to encourage and reward the artistic ability of America’s high school students. A winner from each congressional district in the country is chosen by a panel of local art experts. Slabecka competed against 39 young artists from 14 area high schools in the 9^th Congressional District Artistic Discovery competition. Her painting, “Character,” will hang in the U.S. Capitol with pieces created by over 300 young artists for the next year.

Slabecka, originally from Poland, moved to the United States two years ago on an exchange program. After spending a year in Manchester, NH with a host family, Slabecka joined her father, Walter, in Niles. Her mother and two younger siblings are still in Poland, looking forward to joining the rest of the family in Niles within the next two years. She enrolled at Maine East High School and completed her junior year earlier this June. This fall, Slabecka plans to apply to colleges specializing in art and design.

As the winner of the art competition, Alicja and her father received the trip to Washington, one night in a hotel, and a scholarship to the High School Summer Institute at Columbia College.