Recently Congressman Adam Schiff presented awards to the winners from California’s 30th Congressional District for the annual Congressional Art Competition. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, hundreds of thousands of high school students have submitted their artwork for consideration. For this year’s competition in California’s 30th district, more than 40 students from 18 local schools submitted artwork for consideration. The awards were presented at an exhibit and awards ceremony at the Ebell of Los Angeles. In addition to the first, second, third place and People’s Choice awardees, each student participant received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Rep. Schiff.

This year’s panel of judges included Shepard Fairey, a world-renowned artist whose artwork transformed the way people see art and the urban landscape, Dr. Stacy Brightman, a leader in the Los Angeles arts field and executive director of The Ebell of Los Angeles, and Patricia Peréz, a multi-medium fine artist and teacher and vice president of The Elysian Valley Arts Collective.

During the event, attended by more than 200 students, teachers and parents, Schiff announced that Samantha Abrams’ digital photography “Emily: an eternal companion permanently fleeting” won first place and will be included in the nationwide Congressional Art Competition in Washington, DC. Her artwork will be displayed in the United States Capitol for one year, alongside winners from other congressional districts across the nation. Abrams attends Marlborough School, lives in Los Angeles and is in the 11^th grade.

Additionally, Schiff announced that Karo Boyajyan’s acrylic on wood painting “Shunikner” and Katie Li’s ink and marker artwork “Flutist” won second and third place, respectively, and their artwork will be displayed in Congressman Schiff’s Washington, DC office and his Burbank district office. Boyajyan attends Glendale High School, lives in Glendale and is in the 11^th grade, and Li attends Crescenta Valley High School, lives in La Crescenta and is in the 10^th grade. Every year, the competition awards one People’s Choice Award and this year it went to Stephanie Rodriguez for her oil on canvas painting “Erase.” Rodriguez attends Holy Family High School, lives in Glendale and is in the 12^th grade. Her artwork will be displayed in Rep. Schiff’s Burbank district office.