In a reception held at the Bloomington Theatre and Art Center Monday evening, Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) announced that Carly Koch was the Grand Prize winner of Minnesota’s Third Congressional District Art Competition. Koch, a student at Mound Westonka High School, won the top prize for her piece, “The Great Northern Loon.” The artwork will be displayed at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. for the upcoming year.

The Congressional Art Competition is hosted annually for students in grades 9-12 in Congressional districts across the country. In Minnesota’s Third Congressional District, winners were selected by a panel of local art experts after they evaluated over 70 submissions. Koch and a guest will be able to attend an upcoming award presentation in Washington, D.C.

“I never know how the judges are able to pick just one piece of artwork from so many impressive entries,” said Paulsen. “Every year I’m amazed at the creativity and skill that Minnesota’s young artists possess. ‘The Great Northern Loon’ will be a welcome addition to the halls of the Capitol, and I look forward to hosting Carly in Washington, D.C. for the national reception.”

Paulsen with Grand Prize Winner Carly Koch

Complete award list of Minnesota’s Third Congressional District Art Competition:

Grand Prize Winner

Carly Koch – Mound Westonka H.S.

“The Great Northern Loon”

1^st Place Award

Karlie Rae Wagner – Mound Westonka H.S.

“The Weather Can’t Stop Us”

2^nd Place Award

Jen Day – Rogers H.S.

“Stone Arch Bridge”

3^rd Place Award

Henry Hoes – Providence Academy

“Skyline from the Mississippi”

Honorable Mention

Torii Nelson – Mound Westonka H.S.

Casey Pflipsen – Osseo H.S.

Ryan Richelsen – Providence Academy

Katie Varvel – Perpich Center for Arts

Linda Xiong – Osseo H.S.

Julie Yang – Park Center H.S.

Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Rep. Paulsen’s work in Congress visit paulsen.house.gov. 

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