Greenville, N.C. – Congressman G. K. Butterfield recently announced a 10th grader from Farmville Central High School as the winner of the annual Congressional Arts Competition.

 

Monica Vongbandith from Farmville Central High School was named the winner on Saturday, May 17th at Leo Jenkins Fine Art Center at East Carolina University. The Congressional Art Competition is sponsored by the Congressional Art Caucus and coordinated by members of the United States House of Representatives.

 

Each year, Members of Congress are given the opportunity to submit one piece of student artwork which is hung in the Cannon Tunnel, located between the Cannon House Office Building and the United States Capitol Building. Vongbandith’s art was hung in the tunnel this week.

 

This year, 21 students from five schools – Greenville’s D. H. Conley High, Farmville Central High, Greene Central High, Edenton’s John A. Holmes High and Pasquotank County High – offered 24 pieces of art for the competition.

 

Three winners and six Honorable Mentions were recognized during the event held at East Carolina University. Judging for the competition was performed by faculty members of ECU’s School of Arts and Design, and headed by Assistant Professor Dr. Phil E. Philips.

 

Kelsey Lichtenwalner, a 12th grader at John A. Holmes High School, took second place while Olivia Grant, a Greene Central High School 10th grader, earned third place.

 

“It was a great opportunity for many of our region’s young artists and their families to come together and share their work with one another,” Butterfield said. “The competition recognizes the value of local artistic talents. It left me only further convinced of the need for federal support for the arts so that we can fully develop the creativity and talent of our youth.”