Montana's 2008 Congressoinal Art Contest

Each Spring, the House of Representatives holds the Congressional Art Competition which recognizes the outstanding artwork of one high school student from each congressional district by displaying their work in the Cannon Tunnel in the U.S. Capitol.

Montana's 2008 Congressional Art Competition drew over 165 entries from all over Montana. Montana's high school artists performed in many mediums - from photography, to acrylics, to oils to pencil. I am always impressed by the artistic ability of Montana's high school artists and this year was no exception. Choosing a winner among so many worthy entries was a great challenge.

I would like to extend my congratulations to Zoe Yeager from Conrad, Montana for her acrylic "Grandpa Ray." Her artwork will represent Montana's artistic talent as it hangs in the U.S. Capitol. Congratulations also to Wayne Anderson, her art instructor at Conrad High School.

You can see Zoe's work, other winners and all entries to this year's contest below. Thank you to all who entered - and I look forward to the 2009 contest, just around the corner.

click on the image to see a larger version

Grand Prize
Displayed in Cannon Tunnel, U.S. Capitol Building

Zoe Yeager
Conrad
Conrad High School

"The reason I entered the Art Contest was because my art teacher pushed me to try it this year since it was my last year in school, and also this year he is retiring. He tried to get many of his students to try for this Art Contest, but I believe only three, including myself, submitted entries. Also, I wanted to push myself to try a new technique and see how my project would turn out. Lastly, I have never given my grandmother an art piece of mine, so I figured if I did a picture of my grandpa I could give it to her.

As for what my artwork means to me it's a remembrance of and tribute to my grandpa. I never really knew my grandpa that well because he died when I was 8 years old, and it didn't affect me at that time. It probably didn't affect me because I was too young and I didn't understand what was going on. Now that I'm older I realize how different my life could have been if I would have known my grandpa better. I just wish I would have been able to have more years with him.

Obviously I'm extremely excited as being selected the winner. To tell you the truth when I opened the email saying I had won I had to read it almost three times for me to actually believe it! I feel honored to have been selected because I have never had this much recognition for something I have done before. It's kind of intimidating that I'm going to represent the entire state of Montana with my artwork, but I hope that I represent Montana well."

- Zoe Yeager

First Place
Displayed in Congressional Office, Washington, D.C.

Ellyn Bumgarner
Great Falls
Belt Valley High School

Honorable Mention
Displayed in Congressional Office, Missoula

Falina Lintner
Whitefish
Whitefish High School

Honorable Mention
Displayed in Congressional Office, Billings

Ryan Huppert
Billings
Billings Central Catholic High School

Honorable Mention
Displayed in Congressional Office, Billings

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Honorable Mention
Displayed in Congressional Office, Great Falls

Tyler Murphy
Joliet
Joliet High School

Other entries, in no particular order

Matthew McCabe

High School

Cherith Leidigh
Troy
Yaak Christian Academy

Collin Hamman
Columbia Falls
Flathead High School

Peggy Unterseher
Roundup
Roundup High School

Alix Ungaretti
Missoula
Hellgate High School

Peggy Unterseher
Roundup
Roundup High School

Lacey Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Anna Pearson
Conrad
Conrad High School

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Parker J. Beckley
Missoula
Sentinel High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Alexander R. Schultz
Missoula
Hellgate High School

Carrie Fisher
Hot Springs
Hot Springs High School

Kelley Pierre
Bozeman
Bozeman High School

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Clinton Van Voast
Turner
Turner High School

Jackie Rumph
Biddle
Powder River County District High School

Alyson Heare
Missoula
Frenchtown High School

Gabrielle Reynolds
Saint Regis
Plains High School High School

Taylor Faulkinberry
Harlem
Harlem High School

Sarah Taylor
Bigfork
Bigfork High School

Karly & Christy Tuma
Cut Bank
Cut Bank High School

Caroline Cornell

High School

Bailey johnson
Eureka
Lincoln County High School

Alexander R. Schultz
Missoula
Hellgate High School

Gregg Hokanson
Harrison
Harrison High School

Peggy Unterseher
Roundup
Roundup High School

Mishael Lee
Bozeman
Bozeman High School

Jackie Rumph
Biddle
Powder River County District High School

Parker J. Beckley
Missoula
Sentinel High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Heidi Leritz
Belt
Belt High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Trace Forkan
Anaconda
Anaconda High School

Lauren Callan
Kalispell
Homeschool High School

Valerie Umphrey
Saint Ignatius
Saint Ignatius High School

Danielle Four Bear
Froid
High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Aleksandra Szafranska
Saint Ignatius
Saint Ignatius High School

Jackie Erickson
Lincoln
Lincoln County High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Jake Knaub
Laurel
Laurel High School

Jeff Dionne
Laurel
Laurel High School

Jennifer Smart
Lincoln
Lincoln County High School

Katie Shaw
Lincoln
Lincoln County High School

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Buck Allen Highberger
Red Lodge
Red Lodge High School

Lindsay Russel
Lincoln
Lincoln County High School

Megan Brunke
Broadus
Powder River County District High School

Justin Robbe
Butte
Butte High School

Celia Ka Sin Chan
Power
Power High School

Parker J. Beckley
Missoula
Sentinel High School

Jana Barros
Helena
Helena High School

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Ryan Huppert
Billings
Billings Central Catholic High School

Mishael Lee
Bozeman
Bozeman High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Buck Allen Highberger
Red Lodge
Red Lodge High School

Ceily Rae Highberger
Red Lodge
Red Lodge High School

Lena Bailey
Harrison
Harrison High School

Kasha Caprata
Hardin
Hardin High School

Kaylene Smith
Belt
Belt High School

Jennifer Keller
Billings
West High School

Hillary Taylor
Billings
Huntley Project High School

Mishael Lee
Bozeman
Bozeman High School

Lacey Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Amber Bowers
Libby
Libby High School

Matt Dodolinsky
Helena
Capital High School

Randie Brady
Lincoln
Lincoln County High School

Lacey Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

DeAnn Sutter
Miles City
Custer County District High School

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Johann Gilbert
Harlem
Harlem High School

Samantha Romero
Conrad
Conrad High School

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Trace Forkan
Anaconda
Anaconda High School

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Carmen Lembo
Power
Power High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Teneill Gauthier
Laurel
Laurel High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool High School

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Tyler Murphy
Joliet
Joliet High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Ella Darham
Bozeman
Homeschool

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

Caitlin Sterchi
Whitefish
Whitefish High School

Lacey Flonell Winderl
Glendive
Dawson County High School

All entries posted with permission from the artists. If there are problems, or you would like your work removed, please contact Jed Link at jed.link@mail.house.gov.