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On Saturday, Congressman David Scott hosted his 15^th Annual Congressional Art Competition and Awards Ceremony at the Douglas County Courthouse. With community leaders and members in attendance, Congressman Scott honored all participating students in the 2017 competition and announced the winners during the special presentation.                                    

Christian Alexander, from Langston Hughes High School, won first place for his work “Higher Vibrations.” As the top winner, Christian’s work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year along with the first place artwork from other congressional districts around the U.S.  He also won a $12,000 scholarship from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD); $12,000 scholarship from the Art Institute of Atlanta; a $1,000 prize; and round-trip airfare for two from Southwest Airlines to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Capitol exhibit in Washington, D.C.

“Congratulations to our winner Christian Alexander and all of the students from the Thirteenth District who participated in our 15th Annual competition,” said Congressman Scott.  “Each year I am in awe of the student artwork of our participants. And this year we had such an impressive array of talent displayed by our students.  It is truly an honor to recognize our young people who are already so artistically gifted and committed to their craft, as well as their families and teachers who encourage and support them.”

The Art Institute of Atlanta awarded a $7,500 scholarship for Second Place winner Airason Heard, of Langston Hughes H.S., and a $3,500 scholarship for Third Place winner Emma Bell, of His Master’s Voice School.  The Savannah College of Art and Design also awarded a full summer seminar scholarship of $1,050 to Second Place winner Airason Heard and $500 summer seminar scholarship to Third Place winner Emma Bell. 

To date, Congressman David Scott has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to student artists.  This year, AT&T, Chick-Fil-A, and GreyStone Power provided the following additional scholarships for the top winners: $1,000-first place, $700-second place, $400-third place, $200-fourth place and $200-fifth place. The High Museum of Art provided Fifth Place winner Bryce Landingham of McEachern High a one-year family membership pass. And Six Flags Over Georgia provided a pair of admission tickets to Honorable Mention winner Alexandra Gipson of Arlington Christian School.

The second place artwork will hang in Congressman Scott’s Washington Office for one year; third place will hang in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s Youth Art Gallery for one year; and fourth and fifth places will hang respectively in Congressman Scott’s Jonesboro and Smyrna Offices.

The 2017 winners include:

First Place:  Christian Alexander, Langston Hughes High School, “Higher Vibrations”

Second Place:  Airason Heard, Langston Hughes High School, “Subsister”

Third Place:  Emma Bell, His Master’s Voice School, “Made From Scratch”   

Fourth Place:  Jaquasia McKee, North Clayton High School, “Aspirations”

Fifth Place:  Bryce Landingham, McEachern High School, “The Fro of Angela”

Honorable Mention: Alexandra Gipson, Arlington Christian School, “Stripes”