Champaign, IL. - U.S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson today announced the winners of his 2007 Congressional Art Competition.

   Among more than 90 entrants from across the 15th Congressional District, four winners were chosen.

   First place went to Michael Compton of Hutsonville High School for his piece, “Three Rodents.”

   Second place went to Whitney Shonk of Robinson High School for her piece, “Hidden Castle.”

   Third place went to Kristen Burtzos of Cissna Park High School for her work, “String Melodies.”

   The Judges Merit Award went to Haleigh Woods of Mt. Carmel High School for “My Donkey.”

   Participating high schools this year were St. Thomas More of Champaign, Cissna Park High School, Hutsonville High School, Bismarck-Henning High School, Robinson High School, Mt. Carmel High School and Sullivan High School.

   Judges were Jeffrey Boshart from the Eastern Illinois University art faculty and former art teacher Jim Ingram of Newman.

   First place winners will have their work hung in the U.S. Capitol for a year and second place winners have their art hung in Rep. Johnson’s office in the Longworth Building.

   “I’m truly impressed by the work these young people have done,” Rep. Johnson said. “I’m not the most artisticly inclined person in the world, which is perhaps why I admire the creativity I see in this annual competition, and why I find it so important to encourage and inspire those who possess the talents to do this kind of work. My congratulations and admiration goes out to all our participants.”

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