Dearborn, MI - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) today congratulated all the students who took part in the 15th Congressional District Arts Competition, with special recognition for the three students that received honors for their work.   The winners of the annual competition were selected at the final judging at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  A total of 48 students from eight area high schools participated in this year’s competition, totaling in a substantial 58 pieces of art.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce the winners of the 15th District Arts Competition this year,” said Dingell. “I would like to offer my congratulations to Jacob Zapor of Jefferson High School in Newport, who took top honors for his entry ‘Unrestrained Earth’; Natalie Diew of Dearborn took second place for her painting of a mask; and third place winner Zeinib Saab, of Fordson High School in Dearborn for her photograph titled, ‘Things Could be Worse.’”

Jacob Zapor, the first place winner, will have his winning work displayed in the underground corridor connecting the US Capitol to the Cannon House Office Building for one year starting this June. In the corridor, the artist’s work will be viewed by Members of Congress and thousands of tourists as they travel to and from the Capitol. The artist and a parent or guardian will be invited to Washington, DC for the Capitol exhibition’s opening ceremony.

The artwork of Natalie Diew and Zeinib Saab will be proudly displayed in Congressman Dingell’s Washington, DC office through June 2009, where visitors from all over the world will have the opportunity to appreciate the talents of these fine young artists from Michigan’s 15th Congressional District.

To see their work, go to: http://www.house.gov/dingell/art09.shtml.  

Also honored at the competition were Henry Langs of Ann Arbor, MI and Meredith Miotke of Dearborn, MI.  Henry received the Congressional Award Bronze Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon America’s youth, for his work in his community as well as his personal development.  Meredith was the recipient of a $2,000 scholarship to the College for Creative Studies (CCS) for her submission of artwork as well as her acceptance into the program.

An Artistic Discovery, coordinated by Members of Congress, is the annual Congressional High School Art Competition.  Congressman Dingell has hosted “An Artistic Discovery” every year since it was first launched in 1982.