Washington, D.C.  – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr. today announced that Lafayette native Jacob Sellers is the winner of the 2007 High School Art Competition for the 7th Congressional District.  Sellers, currently a student at St. Thomas More High School, will have his artwork “Downtown Graffiti” featured in the U.S. Capitol Building for the coming year.

“I’m pleased that Jacob’s artwork will be on display for the thousands of visitors who walk through the Capitol everyday,” Boustany said.  “It is a tremendous honor for him and his family, and I congratulate all the participants for their hard work.  This competition honors the talent and creativity of all our high school students in Southwest Louisiana and throughout the country.”

This year’s competition was held Saturday, May 5th, at Cité des Arts in downtown Lafayette.  All other finalists will have their artwork displayed in Congressman Boustany’s District Offices in Lafayette and Lake Charles.  Finishing second place was Amanda Champagne with her artwork “Zoro’s Candy.”  Third Place went to Kelly Carbo for her work “Card in Jar.”  Both Champagne and Carbo are students at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette.

"Artistic Discovery" is the annual nationwide Congressional High School Art Competition initiated by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.  The competition is open to home school, public and private high school students residing in the 7th District.  Each Congressional District hosts its own competition, and since the competition was first launched in 1982, over 5000 local contests have been conducted.  The winning piece of art from each district is on display as part of the national exhibition in the Cannon Tunnel, a pedestrian walkway leading to the U. S. Capitol.

Attached is a photo of Jacob Sellers with his artwork “Downtown Graffiti.”