(AUSTIN, TX) – Congressman Michael T. McCaul (R-TX10) announced that the Tenth Congressional District winner of the 2008 Congressional Art Competition, is Joel Stanulonis, a home-schooled high school student in Katy. His winning piece was titled "In Fields of Blue" and depicted a longhorn in a field of bluebonnets.

Aspiring artists in high schools from across the Tenth Congressional District were encouraged to enter this year’s contest, titled "An Artistic Discovery". Stanulonis was announced as the winner Monday at the Funky Art Café in Brenham, where the entries were judged by independent judges last week. Stanulonis’s artwork will now hang for one year with the other winning entries from across the country in the Cannon Tunnel, which leads to the U.S. Capitol building.

"I look forward to seeing Joel’s work every time I walk from my office into the United States Capitol," said Representative McCaul. "I hope it encourages other students from Katy and rest of the Tenth District to pursue their dreams knowing they can achieve success."

Second place went to Brittanie Green, a student at Giddings High School in Giddings, for her sketch titled "Love in ‘43" depicting her recently-passed great grandparents.

Southwest Airlines will offer Stanulonis and two of his guests, complementary round-trip tickets to Washington, D.C. to attend the national reception and view their art work on display. He could also receive a $5,000 scholarship from The Savannah College of Art and Design pending application and acceptance.

The remaining Tenth District entries will hang in the Funky Art Café through May 31.