Southern Arizona congresswoman also hosts her third Academy Day for students seeking appointment to a U.S. service academy
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Saturday will recognize the talent of 44 students from 12 Southern Arizona high schools who won prizes in a national arts competition sponsored by Congress.
The Congressional Arts Competition Grand Prize was awarded to Rachel Childers, a senior at Ironwood Ridge High School, who submitted a vividly rendered oil painting of her grandfather thinking and praying, titled “Portrait of Elmer."
Childers’ work will be displayed for one year at the Capitol in Washington, where it will be seen by members of Congress and tens of thousands of visitors. It will hang alongside 434 other grand prize winners, one from each of the nation’s congressional districts.
This year marks the 24th anniversary of the Congressional Arts Competition, an event sponsored by the Congressional Arts Caucus. The competition is open to all high school students and was created to recognize the creative talents of young Americans.
“If this year’s entries are any indication, we have a tremendous amount of artistic talent in Southern Arizona,” said Giffords. “Many of the paintings, drawings and photographs we looked at this year could easily be displayed in a gallery or museum.”
The winners of this year’s Congressional Arts Competition were selected by a panel five judges who reviewed 209 entries. Four prizes – 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, as well as honorable mention – were awarded in eight categories – photography, western art, general painting, figurative painting, general black and white drawing, figurative black and white drawing, general color drawing, and figurative color drawing.
Childers, as the winner of the Grand Prize, will receive three airline tickets from Southwest Airlines so she and her parents can fly to Washington for a ceremony in June. She also will receive $500, thanks to the Friends of Western Art.
Later on Saturday, Giffords will host her third Academy Day, an information session for high school students interested in attending one of our nation’s service academies.
Students will have the opportunity to meet with the congresswoman and representatives from the Air Force, Merchant Marine, Military and Naval academies, as well as the University of Arizona ROTC.
Every member of Congress has the privilege of nominating a select few students for admission to our country’s prestigious service academies.
Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, nominates candidates to each academy, but the academies make the final admissions decisions.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords honors Congressional Art Competition winners
WHEN: 10:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 2
WHERE: Tohono Chul Park Performance Garden, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, Tucson
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords host her third Academy Day
WHEN: 1-2 p.m., Saturday, May 2
WHERE: Rincon High School Little Theater, 421 N. Arcadia Ave., Tucson