Schools

South and North High Students Grab Honors in Congressional Art Competition

Downers Grove students recognized in national high school art competition.

Four Dist. 99 students have won top recognition in the Congressional Art Competition, a contest sponsored by members of the U.S. House of Representatives every spring to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation. From dozens of submissions, an independent local judge selected the winners.

South High senior Maria Padilla grabbed first place honors for her digital photograph, “Lost,” from Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11). Jessica Stacko, also a senior at South High, received second place for her digital photograph, “Delicate Things.”

In the 6th District sponsored by Congressman Peter Roskam, North High sophomore Andra Jankauskaite won first place for her cubist photograph, “Disorderly Conduct.” North High sophomore Aubrey Saha was one of only two merit winners.

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First place winners in their respective districts, Padilla and Jankauskaite will both have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Each will receive two round-trip tickets to Washington D.C. to attend the national awards ceremony. Stacko and Saha will have their artwork displayed in their local congressional offices for one year.  

Padilla also won an American Vision Medal in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for “Lost.”

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“For over 30 years, the Congressional Art Competition has showcased the amazing ability of our nation’s most talented young artists,” said Congressman Roskam. “I am always impressed by the creativity and ability these students demonstrate, and this year was no exception.”

South High Fine Arts Chair Glenn Williams praised Maria and Jessica’s “pursuit of excellence at a regional level.

Williams’s fellow fine arts chair at North High called sophomores Andra and Aubrey “incredible artists” who deserved the recognition.

“They are both sophomores, so we look forward to enjoying their artwork in the years to come,” Williams added.

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.

Visit the Congressional Art Competition website for more information about the competition.



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