(Washington, D.C.) On Sunday, April 29, at the Pico Rivera Senior Center, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano honored the winners of this year’s 38th Congressional District Art Contest.

“It is inspiring to see what our young artists are capable of,” Napolitano said. “We should continue to support the scholarships and school programs that allow these youngsters to fully develop their talent. I congratulate all of our students on the beautiful and diverse works of art they created this year.”

The first place winner was Elizabeth Ewald, of Vincent Art Institute in Hacienda Heights, with her work “Restoration,” which showed a family photograph being patched back together by a bandaid.

“I won by God’s grace,” Ewald said. “Family is very important, and without family, society is weak,” she said, explaining the motivation behind her painting. “Traveling to Washington, D.C. for the ceremony is a once in a lifetime chance.”

Ewald will be flown to Washington, D.C. to be honored alongside other congressional art contest winners from across the country. For the next year, Ewald’s work will hang in the halls of Congress representing the 38th Congressional District of California.

Second place went to Lynette Haro, from El Rancho High School, with her painting “Layers of Substance,” and third place went to Brenda Ponce, of Village Academy High School, for her photograph “Boys Being Boys.”

2012 Winners:

1st Place: Elizabeth Ewald, Vincent Art Institute, “Restoration”

2nd Place: Lynette Haro, El Rancho High School, “Layers of Substance”

3rd Place: Brenda Ponce, Village Academy High School, “Boys Being Boys”

Honorable Mention: Cindy Lee, Diamond Ranch High School, “Hope”

Honorable Mention: Rosa Chavez, Workman High School, “My Little Angels”

Honorable Mention: Jose Lemus, Village Academy High School, “My Friends”

Honorable Mention: Kimberly Vance, Warren High School, “Dancer on the Beach”

Honorable Mention: Magan Vergara, Village Academy High School, “One Way Color”

Honorable Mention: Tessy Lopez, Ganesha High School, “Sunglasses”

Judge’s Choice: Diana Carrillo, El Rancho High School, “Divine Innocence”

Judge’s Choice: Monica Isabel Ceja, Workman High School, “All It Takes is a Smile”

Judge’s Choice: Maritza Cristanos, Garey High School, “Model”

The Congressional Art Competition is held every year to give young artists an opportunity to display their talent on a local and potentially national level. First place winners are selected from each of the participating Congressional Districts, and their artwork is put on display for a year at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. High school students interested in entering the contest next year should talk to their art teacher.

Links to images:

1st place: http://napolitano.house.gov/sites/napolitano.house.gov/files/images/1st%20Place%20%281%29.JPG

2nd place: http://napolitano.house.gov/sites/napolitano.house.gov/files/images/IMG_3403.JPG

3rd place: http://napolitano.house.gov/sites/napolitano.house.gov/files/images/3rd%20place%20%281%29.JPG

Top three (Left to right: Rep. Grace Napolitano, Pico Rivera Mayor Bob Archuleta, Lynette Haro, Elizabeth Ewald, Brenda Ponce): http://napolitano.house.gov/sites/napolitano.house.gov/files/images/topthreecropped_0.jpg

http://napolitano.house.gov/sites/napolitano.house.gov/files/images/DSC_4676.JPG

Group shot: http://napolitano.house.gov/sites/napolitano.house.gov/files/images/IMG_3726.JPG

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