Young Artists from Whitefish and Geraldine Also Honored

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced that Paige Ward, from Libby High School, has been selected as the grand prize winner of Montana’s Congressional Art Competition for 2010. Rehberg will join Ward in a Capitol Hill ceremony where her artwork will be unveiled and displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel along with the artwork of winners from other congressional districts. The Cannon Tunnel is a pedestrian walkway, leading to the United States Capitol building, frequented by Members of Congress, staff, and the general public. “With this year’s batch of exceptional artwork from around Montana, picking a winner was harder than ever,” said Rehberg. “Hosting the Congressional Art Contest is a pleasure to judge each year. I look forward to seeing Paige’s beautiful picture on the walls of the Cannon Tunnel.”

 
Paige Ward's "Silent Helper"

Ward is a senior at Libby High School. Her artwork was selected from among the entries submitted from all across Montana in the Congressional Art Competition, a U.S. House of Representatives art competition which has been held annually since 1982. Ward’s digital photograph is entitled “Silent Helper,” and depicts a bee on a flower. The image was made for an assignment in a Beginners Photography class at Libby High School. “As an artist going to college next fall and majoring in Photography, I am very pleased to add this accomplishment to my applications and awards in the future,” said Ward. “Winning this competition helped me realize that even a simple girl from the Middle of Nowhere, Montana can achieve her dreams. I hope this is just the start of many great accomplishments in my photographic career. I just want to say that I am thrilled with this opportunity and could not hold in my enthusiasm when I heard I won! I was shocked and leaped in the air when Ms. Rambo told me! I couldn't believe it!”

Ward’s artwork was also the top choice in public voting via the social networking website Facebook. Rehberg posted all entries online for public review and voting to help select the finalists. As the grand prize winner, she received airfare for her and a guest to attend the artwork’s unveiling ceremony in Washington D.C. She’ll also receive a $1,000 art scholarship offer from the University of Montana. Paige is the daughter of Steve and Sydney Ward of Libby. Patty Rambo was Ward’s art teacher at Libby High School.

In addition to the grand prize winner, Rehberg also recognized Katie McGunagle, a senior from Whitefish High School for her oil painting, “At Water’s Edge” and Zac Danbrook a junior from Geraldine High School for his photograph, “Wheat.” Their artwork will be featured in Rehberg’s Washington D.C. office. Their art teachers are Lonnie Collinsworth and Raeann Meeks, respectively.  

"Wheat" by Zach Danbrook and "At Water's Edge" by Katie McGunagle