FOND DU LAC -- Two students from Sheboygan North High School, and one from Berlin High School, won the top three awards Saturday, May 5, at Rep. Tom Petri's Congressional Art Competition event held at the University of Wisconsin - Fond du Lac.

The First Place winner was Mia Koua Yang, a Sheboygan North High School senior, whose colored pencil prismacolor work is titled "Sunshine." Her drawing will be framed and sent to Washington to be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol Building. Yang will also receive a round-trip plane ticket to Washington so that she can attend a June 28 event held in honor of the First Place winners from congressional districts around the country.

Second Place went to Dacy Swansby, a Berlin High School junior, whose acrylic painting, "Country Retirement," will be displayed in Petri's Washington office.

Winning Third Place was Lee Xiong, a Sheboygan North High School senior, whose chalk pastel work, "The Beautiful Man," will be displayed in Petri's Fond du Lac office.

The competition was judged by four 6th Congressional District artists: John Scotello, head of the UW - Fond du Lac art department; Nancy Donohue; Susan Fiebig; and Lindsey Bovinet. They chose from 34 submissions made by 14 schools in the district.

Rep. Tom Petri with Mia Koua Yang, a Sheboygan North High School senior, the First Place winner of the Congressman's 2007 Congressional Art Comptition.

At the event, Petri noted, "In education, it has been demonstrated that the arts are invaluable in learning and development, and that success in the arts is very often a precursor to success in other academic areas."

"People who are involved in the arts are passionate about what they do, and their commitment brings enrichment to all of us," he said.

The Congressional Art Competition, sponsored by Members of Congress through competitions held in their congressional districts, affords creative high school students the opportunity to showcase their talents in Washington, DC.