For Release: Monday, May 19, 2008
Contact: Mary Shalapin: 618-202-8026

U.S. CONGRESSMAN COSTELLO ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ART COMPETITION

Belleville - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) announced the winners of this year's 12th Congressional District High School Art Competition. The award ceremony for the Congressional competition, “An Artistic Discovery,” took place on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at Art on the Square in downtown Belleville. 134 total entries were received for this year’s art competition.

After review by a panel of independent judges, Costello announced the following winners as “Best of Show” in each artistic category:

• Painting – Christian Fischer from Lebanon High School
• Drawing – Connie Park from O’Fallon Township High School
• Mixed Media - Katie Waddel from O’Fallon Township High School
• Computer Generated Art – Brandon Trammel from Marion high School
• Photography – Dylan Damian from Carbondale High School

Third Place in the overall competition went to Mason Smith from Carbondale High School. Second Place went to Shyron Bolden from Belleville West High School. The third and second place overall winning artworks will hang in Congressman Costello’s Belleville District Office for one year. The artists received a ribbon and Congressional certificate.

The Grand Prize Winner was Elisabeth Choate from Marion High School. Elisabeth's winning art work, a computer graphic work titled “My World,” will hang for one year, along with other congressional district winners from across the U.S., in the Cannon Office Building Tunnel leading to the U.S. Capitol. Elisabeth will also receive a $5000 renewable scholarship from a college of Art and Design and three round-trip airfare tickets to Washington D.C. where Elisabeth and one guest will attend a reception to open the 2008-2009 Exhibit in June.

“This year, as in year’s past, the level of artistic talent displayed by the high school students in our Congressional District was amazing,” said Costello. “I would like to offer my congratulations and appreciation to each of the students who entered the contest, as well at to their art teachers who obviously provided excellent artistic education. I would also like to thank Art on the Square for hosting this event again this year in conjunction with their high school competition.”

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