Student receives award from Rep. Erik Paulsen, will have artwork placed on display at U.S. Capitol beginning next month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 11, 2010
CONTACT: Luke Friedrich: (952) 405 -8510

EDEN PRAIRIE – Hopkins High School student Grace Washko was recently awarded the grand prize in this year’s Congressional Art Competition for Minnesota’s Third District.  Congressman Erik Paulsen, who organized the Third District competition, presented the award to Washko during a ceremony at the Bloomington Theatre & Art Center.   Washko will travel to Washington, D.C. next month to see her winning artwork “Hopper House” put on display in the United States Capitol.

"I offer my congratulations to Grace on being chosen this year’s winner and am excited to see her artwork on display in the Capitol soon,” Paulsen said. "This competition is a great way to celebrate and encourage the artistic skills of area students and I want to thank everyone who participated.  I was once again amazed by the artistic talent of these students in the Third District, who gave our judges a tough job in choosing this year’s winners.”

In addition to the grand prize, several awards were presented at the ceremony.  A full list can be found at HERE.

This is the 2nd contest held by Paulsen, whose office worked with local school districts to encourage student participation. This year, 55 pieces of artwork were submitted – more than doubling the number of entries from last year’s contest.   Along with the Bloomington Theatre & Art Center, this year’s contest was sponsored by the Mall of America, Larkin Hoffman Attorneys, Southwest Airlines and Blick Art Materials. 

The Congressional Art Competition was established in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the talents of young artists.  Since then, more than 650,000 high school students have taken part.

###