(Cranberry Township, PA) -

Rep. Jason Altmire (PA-4) today named Kari Juranowitch, an eleventh grade student at Deer Lakes High School, the winner of this year's Fourth District Congressional High School Art Competition.  The announcement was made this afternoon at an awards ceremony and reception at the Cranberry Township Municipal Building.
 
"I am pleased to host this competition to encourage, recognize and showcase the talents of our students," said Rep. Altmire.  "I congratulate Kari and all of our semifinalists for their hard work.  These students represent the commitment and wealth of talent present in the youth of the Fourth Congressional District."
 
For her pastel drawing, "A Look Ahead," Juranowitch wins a $20,000 Artistic Honors Scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design.  Juranowitch will also be invited to Washington, D.C. for a June 28 ribbon-cutting ceremony, and her artwork will remain on display for one year in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol Building.
 
Emily Vukson, a twelfth grader at North Allegheny High School, won second place for her digital photo montage entitled, "Creation."  Vukson's artwork will be displayed in Rep. Altmire's Washington, D.C. office.  Joel Lang, a twelfth grader at Highlands High School, captured third place with "Self Portrait in the Dark," tempera paint on canvas board.  His work will be on display in Rep. Altmire's district office.
 
The submissions were judged by Elizabeth Asche Douglas, a local artist and educator; Cynthia Kundar, Executive Director of the Merrick Art Gallery of Beaver Falls; and Diane Pontoriero, Board Member of the North Hills Art Center.
 
The artwork of all semifinalists will remain on exhibit from April 21-30, 2007, at the Cranberry Township Municipal Building.
 
This year marks the 24th anniversary of the Congressional Arts Competition, sponsored by the Congressional Arts Caucus.  Every year, each Member of Congress holds a contest within his or her district to choose a winning piece of art by a local high school student.  Since the Congressional Arts Competition was created in 1982, hundreds of thousands of high school students have contributed at the local level in this program.