Constituent Services
Congressional Art Competition
"An Artistic Discovery"
Congressional Art Competition for High School Students
“An Artistic Discovery” is the annual nationwide Congressional High School Art Competition, sponsored by the Congressional Institute and coordinated by Members of the United States House of Representatives in their districts. Each year, Members of Congress conduct local art competitions in their districts. The winning piece of art from each district becomes part of an impressive display on national exhibition in the United States Capitol.
“An Artistic Discovery” provides Members of Congress and the public the opportunity to encourage and recognize the rich artistic talents of young Americans at a time when local cultural organizations and arts-in-education programs are being curtailed. I am sure that you will be quite impressed with the artwork that becomes part of the exhibit in the Capitol. You can view the most recent winners here.
ARTIST: Seon Young Park
SCHOOL: Wilbraham & Monson Academy
CITY: Wilbraham, Massachusetts
TITLE: The Learned Virtuoso MEDIUM: Conte
INSTRUCTOR: Paul Bloomfield
2014 Art Competition Information
FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
General Guidelines
- The competition is open to high school students only. Exceptions may be made for schools that have 7th through 12th grades on one campus.
- Artwork must be two-dimensional.
- Each piece can be no larger than 28” x 28” x 4” (28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep), including the frame. If your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it will be required to be framed and must still adhere to the size guidelines. Framing guidelines apply only to the ONE winning piece the will be sent to Washington, DC.
- Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 pounds.
- Artwork accepted mediums are as follows:
- Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
- Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
- Collage: must be two dimensional
- Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
- Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
- Computer-generated art
- Photography
- Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo (not the student’s own), painting, graphic, advertisement, or any other work produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing).
- Each School may submit up to 20 entries.
- Entries must be received in Congressman Neal's Office by the Thursday before April vacation.
- Artwork must be delivered to either the Springfield District Office (300 State Street, Suite 200, Springfield, MA) or the Pittsfield District Office (78 Center Street) prior to that date, or…
- We will pick up your entries! Your artwork must be ready and in the School office on the Thursday before April vacation (in the morning).
- Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let us know if you need a pick up.
- If you are home schooled or attend outside the district, please call or email and we will make arrangements.
- Jeanne Ahern (413) 785-0325, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Dan Johnson (413) 442-0946, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Artwork will hang in the Capitol for the entire year of the exhibition and cannot be returned to the students earlier. Students should, therefore, submit artwork they will not need for other purposes.
Suitability Guidelines
- As outlined in these guidelines, the final decision regarding the suitability of all artwork for the Congressional Art Competition exhibition in the Capitol will be made by a panel of qualified persons chaired by the Architect of the Capitol. While it is not the intent to censor any artwork, we do wish to avoid artwork that is potentially inappropriate for display in this highly travelled area leading to the Capitol.
- Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission. In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed. It is necessary that all artwork be reviewed by the panel chaired by the Architect of the Capitol and any portion not in consonance with the Commission’s policy will be omitted from the exhibit.
Student Information and Release Form
- Each entry must include a Student Information and Release Form. The Student Information and Release Form is available through the office of your Member of Congress.
- The information requested on the first page of the form should be provided as thoroughly as possible. Students should list their mailing addresses, if different from their residential addresses. The form requires a description of the artwork, which should be detailed, clearly identifying the major elements of the work. For example, “self-portrait” or “a picture of two people” would be unacceptable, due to the large number of works that would fit that description. “A painting of two people; the one on the left wears a green sweater and khaki pants; the one on the right wears a black shirt and a striped skirt. A dog sits at their feet” is an example of an acceptable description.
- The second page of the Student Information and Release Form contains a legal release and a certification that the artwork is original in design and execution. The student, an art teacher, and a parent or guardian must sign where appropriate. Entries without signed originality certifications and artwork releases may not be accepted.
- A TYPED copy of the Student Release Form, signed by the teacher, a parent or guardian, and the student, and must be securely attached to the back of the artwork to certify the originality of the piece.
Military Academy Nominations
As your Representative in the United States Congress, I have the privilege of nominating a limited number of qualified young people to four of the five service academies each year.
I host an annual Academy Day to help interested students determine if an Academy or similar education path is something they would want to pursue. While it is recommended that interested juniors in High School attend Academy Day, interested high school students of all ages are welcome to attend. Through the years, this forum has become a valuable tool for interested students and their families to learn about service academies and other similar educational opportunities, and a useful first step in the process of obtaining a nomination to a service academy. The United States Military Academy; United States Naval Academy; United States Air Force Academy; and the United States Merchant Marine Academy are the four service academies needing a nomination, and all participate in our Academy Day. Additionally, the United States Coast Guard Academy; Mass Maritime Academy; Norwich University; and ROTC programs are invited to participate, expanding the information available to young people.
Academy Day is held each year on the last Sunday in April at the Conference Center, at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts. All those who would like to attend, MUST pre-register using the form below.
Pictured,L-R: Col Steven D. Vautrain, Commander, 439th Air Lift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee, MA; United States Military Academy Appointee: Timothy McLaughlin, Blackstone-Millville Regional High School (2012), Stonehill College 2013; United States Naval Academy Appointee: Nicole DeFazio, Northbridge High School (2013); United States Merchant Marine Academy Appointees: Michael Shea, Milford High School (2013) and Robert Baker, Holy Name Central Catholic High School (2013); Congressman Richard Neal. |
Academy Day 2014 |
Base regulations require pre-registration for this event by April 15, 2014. |
Academy Nominations - Forms and Information |
Seeking a Nomination: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a nomination?
What are the basic eligibility requirements?
Who do I contact to request an application?
When do I apply for a nomination?
What is the deadline for completing a nomination file?
What must be included in my nomination file?
What happens after I have completed my nomination file?
What criteria is used in selecting candidates?
How many academies are there?
Are the requirements the same for all of the service academies?
Who should I ask to write a letter of recommendation on my behalf?
Will I automatically be selected by the academy after I receive a nomination?
What if I choose more than one academy? Will I be limited to a single nomination?
When will I know if I have been offered an appointment by an academy?
What is a nomination?
Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates for appointment to four U.S. service academies. These schools are the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. These institutions provide college-age Americans with a tuition-free, four year undergraduate education and prepare them to be officers of some of the U.S. uniformed services. Upon graduation, service academy graduates are commissioned as officers in the active or reserve components of the military or the merchant marine for a minimum of five years.
A candidate may seek a nomination from the following:
- A member of the US House of Representatives who represents the congressional district in which the candidate resides
- Both US Senators from his or her state
- Apply directly to the Vice-President of the United States
What are the basic eligibility requirements?
Each applicant for a nomination must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to an academy:
- Age: Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday
- Citizenship: Must be a US citizen
- Marital Status: Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents.
- Residence: Must reside within the boundaries of the 1st District of Massachusetts (click here to see if you live within the boundaries).
- Skill / Fitness: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy.
Who do I contact to request an application?
You can locate the application instructions and form at the top of this page. Please contact Jeanne Ahern at (413) 785-0325 if you have any questions.
When do I apply for a nomination?
The Nomination Cycle begins in the Spring of your Junior year with Academy Day.
What is the deadline for completing a nomination file?
This year, the deadline for submitting a nomination packet to my District Office is November 1.
What must be included in my nomination file?
A complete nomination file consists of the following items:
- Completed application form
- Current photo (optional)
- High school transcript
- College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results and/or American College Testing Program (ACT) results
- Resume of extracurricular activities
- An essay stating why you want to attend a service academy (500 words or less)
- Minimum of three letters of recommendation
What happens after I have completed my nomination file?
Applicants who submit a completed nomination file will be scheduled for an interview in late November or early December.
What criteria is used in selecting candidates?
Nominations are based on a holistic evaluation. Factors such as academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, leadership skills, physical aptitude, character, motivation and community service are taken into consideration and compared with other applicants.
How many academies are there?
There are five service academies:
Three reside within the Department of Defense:
- US Military Academy at West Point, New York
- US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
- US Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs
Two reside within the Department of Transportation:
- US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York
- US Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut
Students, however, only need to be nominated to the US Military Academy, US Naval Academy, US Air Force Academy and the US Merchant Marine Academy. The US Coast Guard Academy accepts students based on their own testing criteria.
Are the requirements the same for all of the service academies?
No. Although many of the qualifications are similar, each academy operates under its own admissions guidelines. Visit the academy of your choice via the web sites noted for each academy's particular admissions qualifications. It is not necessary to seek a nomination to the Coast Guard Academy, as the U.S.C.G.A. accepts candidates based on their own testing criteria.
Who should I ask to write a letter of recommendation on my behalf?
Some of the people applicants typically seek recommendations from include:
- Teachers
- Counselors
- Employers
- Coaches
- Clergy
- Scout Leaders
There is a Reference Form as part of my application package. A letter is also acceptable, provided the topics on the reference form are addressed.
Will I automatically be selected by the academy after I receive a nomination?
No. You will be placed among a select group of nominees, and the academy of your choice will make the final decision. If selected, you will receive an offer of admission (an appointment) directly from the academy.
What if I choose more than one academy? Will I be limited to a single nomination?
No. You can be nominated to multiple academies depending on how well you have competed among this year's pool of candidates. It is also possible to win multiple appointments.
When will I know if I have been offered an appointment by an academy?
Academies will begin to notify candidates of their admission status in February. All offers of appointment are generally sent out by May.
PARF Form
PARF Form - Webform
Schedule a Tour
If you are planning a trip to the Nation's Capital, my office may be able to provide you with tickets to many of Washington, D.C.'s popular attractions and historical landmarks.
Tour hours and ticket availabilities vary throughout the year, so please contact my office with at least 8-12 weeks advance notice whenever possible.
Click HERE to request a tour.
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