On Saturday, March 1, 2014, Congressman David Scott announced the ten local high students whose artwork was selected as the winning entries in the Thirteenth District’s 12th Annual Congressional Art Competition. The announcement was made during a special presentation at the Douglas County Museum of History and Art, which featured welcome remarks by Douglas County Commission Chairman Tom Worthan and Douglasville Mayor Harvey Persons.
Thaleena Chhoeurm, a student at North Clayton High School, earned “First Place” in the competition. Her winning pieceLook Into My Culture will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Art Malloy from the Savannah College of Art and Design and Dr. Melissa Manuel from the Art Institute of Atlanta awarded Thaleena scholarships of $12,000 and $10,000 respectively.
The Art Institute of Atlanta also provided a $5,000 scholarship for Second Place winner Mohammed Azeez of Pebblebrook High’sSelfie and a $2,500 scholarship for Third Place winner Natalie Dishmon-Caraballo of Stockbridge High’s Long Neck. Mohammed’s art will hang in Congressman Scott’s Washington Office for 1 year and Natalie’s artwork will hang in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport for 1 year.
“I am so proud of the artistic talent displayed by our young people,” said Congressman Scott. “The arts have played a major role in our schools by helping young people focus and hone their talents. While everyone may not become a professional artist, the skills that come from disciplining yourself and connecting with your inner self are invaluable.”
To date, Congressman Scott has awarded over $370,000 and more than 40 scholarships to local student artists. This year’s independent panel of judges included a number of prominent figures in the arts community.
Additional winners include:
4th Place: Dairys Escoto, Solace at Dawn, McEachern High
5th Place: Christian Germany, The Working Mind, Langston Hughes High
Honorable Mention:
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Gabrielle Boswell, Hush, Whitefield Academy High
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Jazryne Hendrix, Blooming, Mundys Mill High
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Jana Benton, Realm of Indifference, Mundys Mill High
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Abby Ellerbe, Kaleidscope, McEachern High
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Caroline Wallis, In the end it doesn’t matter how you reach someone, but whether or not you are able to reach them at all, Campbell High
Special Thanks: Congressman Scott thanked the Management, Board of Directors and Staff of the Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/ Douglas County for exhibiting the 2014 Thirteenth Congressional District Art Competition. Since 1986, the Cultural Arts Council has offered cultural services to nurture, guide and stimulate the enjoyment of and participation in the arts among residents of and visitors to Douglasville and Douglas County.
