For Release: Monday, May 18, 2009
Contact: Mary Shalapin: 618-233-8026

U.S. CONGRESSMAN COSTELLO ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ART COMPETITION

Belleville - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) announced the winners of this year's 12th Congressional District High School Art Competition. The award ceremony for the Congressional competition, “An Artistic Discovery,” took place on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at Art on the Square in downtown Belleville. 139 total entries were received for this year’s art competition.

After review by a panel of independent judges, Costello announced the following winners as “Best of Show” in each artistic category:

• Painting – Ashley Alinger from Marion High School
• Painting – Atalie Holman from Civic Memorial High School
• Drawing – Brynn Heitkamp from O’Fallon Township High School
• Prints – Kirsten Hayden from Marion High School
• Mixed Media – Zach Stock from Belleville East High School
• Computer Generated Art – Adrian Garcia from Cobden High School
• Photography – Brittany Hammett from Carbondale High School

Third Place in the overall competition went to Victoria Hensley from Belleville West High School. Second Place went to Amber Wolz from Marion High School. The third and second place overall winning artworks will hang in Congressman Costello’s Belleville District Office for one year. The artists received a ribbon and Congressional certificate.

The Grand Prize Winner was Chelsey Sprengeler from Belleville West High School. Chelsey's winning art work, a colored pencil drawing titled, “Check Your Mate,” will hang for one year, along with other congressional district winners from across the United States, in the Cannon Office Building Tunnel leading to the U.S. Capitol. Chelsey will also be eligible for a $1500 renewable scholarship from a college of Art and Design and will receive three round-trip airfare tickets to Washington D.C. where Chelsey and one guest will attend a reception to open the 2009-2010 Exhibit in June.

“Each year, the level of artistic talent displayed by the high school students in our Congressional District is truly impressive and this year was certainly no exception,” said Costello. “I would like to offer my congratulations and appreciation to every student who entered the contest. I would also like to recognize the art teachers who have provided excellent guidance and inspiration to these budding artists. Finally, I would once again like to thank Art on the Square for hosting this event in conjunction with their high school competition.”

###