BRITTANY GIBEAULT OF HARMONY GROVE HIGH WINS 2006 CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION

LITTLE ROCK, AR – Brittany Gibeault of Harmony Grove High School in Haskell is the winner of Arkansas's 2nd District 2006 Congressional High School Art Competition.  Congressman Vic Snyder announced the winner at the opening of the exhibition at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Fine Arts Building on Monday, May 15th.

 The annual Congressional High School Art Competition gives one student from each Congressional District in the nation the opportunity to have his or her work displayed in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.  Brittany’s winning entry is a collage entitled “Pieces of Me.”

 The 2006 Second District Competition had 47 entries from the following high schools:  Benton, Bryant, Capital City Christian Academy, Conway, Hall, Harmony Grove in Haskell, Oak Grove, Wilbur D. Mills High, Mount Saint Mary’s Academy in Little Rock, North Pulaski in Jacksonville, and Shirley.

 In a cooperative agreement with Congressman Snyder, UALR administered and judged the competition.  The winner was awarded her choice of custom framing for her piece from Works of Art in Little Rock; three round trip tickets to Washington, DC from Southwest Airlines to attend the opening of the national exhibit at the U.S. Capitol on June 28th; a $300 book scholarship awarded by the Arkansas Student Loan Authority; and a $25 gift certificate from Barnes and Noble Bookstore on Chenal Parkway in Little Rock.

“The UALR Art Department always does an exceptional job in helping with the competition, and we truly appreciate all of their hard work,” said Congressman Snyder. “I was very pleased to see donations of round trip airline tickets from Southwest Airlines, a customized framing from Work of Art in Little Rock, gift certificates from Barnes and Noble, and scholarships from the Arkansas Student Loan Authority, all donated to our student winners this year."

Second through fourth place winners were Gina Davis of North Pulaski High in Jacksonville (2nd); Justin R. Case of Capital City Christian Academy in Little Rock (3rd); and Victor Gurrola of Hall High in Little Rock (4th). Each was awarded a $300 book scholarship from the Arkansas Student Loan Authority, and a $25 gift certificate from Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Little Rock.

The jurors were impressed with the entries this year and chose five works to be recognized as Honorable Mentions. They are: Rebecca Caldwell, Kelcey Towell, and Rachel Petty of Mount Saint Mary’s Academy; Matthew Thompson of Shirley High School; and Kristin Daniels of Hall High. They received framed certificates signed by Congressman Snyder.

 All of the entries (except for the winning entry, which will be sent to Washington for display in the Capitol) will be on display to the public in the second floor Gallery of the UALR Fine Arts Building until June 5th.

**A photo of Brittany or the other winners & Congressman Snyder is available by calling Linsley at 501-324-5941.