Champlin High School Student Wins Third Congressional District Art Contest
Marja Holm will have painting placed on display at U.S. Capitol beginning next month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29th, 2009

EDEN PRAIRIE – Marja Holm, a resident of Champlin, has won this year’s Congressional District Art Competition – an annual art contest for high school students - for Minnesota’s Third District. Congressman Erik Paulsen presented an award to Holm during a reception at his Eden Prairie office yesterday evening.  Holm, a high school senior, will travel to Washington, D.C. next month to see her winning entry, “A Soldier’s Tear,” go on display in the U.S. Capitol, along with hundreds of others from Congressional Districts around the country.   

"My congratulations to Marja, as well as to all the talented young artists who participated in this year's competition," Congressman Paulsen said. "We had many outstanding entries, which made picking a winner quite a challenge for our panel.  This competition was a unique opportunity to celebrate the talent of area high school artists, and to have their great work recognized.  I thank everyone who participated, and I look forward to seeing Marja’s painting displayed in the Capitol tunnel next month.”

Paulsen’s office worked with local school districts to encourage students to participate. Holm’s artwork was chosen as the winner by a volunteer panel.  Congressman Paulsen honored each of the 19 artists who submitted artwork.  Oludayo Obilade of Brooklyn Park received second place for “Musical Graffiti” and Leah Becker of Eden Prairie received third place for “Creative Writing.” Their work will be on display in Paulsen’s Washington D.C. office. Additionally, several of the artists who entered will have their work displayed in Congressman Paulsen’s district office in Eden Prairie.

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.

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