Rep. Johnson announces 2012 Congressional Arts Competition winners

LITHONIA, GA – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced the winners of his 2012 Congressional Arts Competition and awarded four college scholarships worth more than $20,000 on May 5 at the Lou Walker Senior Center.

[2012 Arts Competition in pictures]

Since 2007, Congressman Johnson has awarded more than $200,000 in arts scholarships to Fourth District students.

“I’m proud of all the students who participated in this year’s competition,” said Rep. Johnson. “In my eyes, they are all winners – and every student should be justifiably proud of their art and accomplishments.”

Twenty-two high school students from DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties submitted artwork competing for the four college scholarships.

Nicolaas Turner of Chamblee High School in DeKalb County earned a $6,000 scholarship from Savannah College of Art and Design for “I am Trayvon Martin.” Turner will travel to Washington, D.C., next month to see his art displayed in the Capitol tunnel, where it will hang with other award winners for a year.

Justin Housley of Miller Grove High School won a $10,000 scholarship to the Art Institute of Atlanta with his piece “Random Thoughts”; Amber Green of Miller Grove High School won a $5,000 scholarship to the Art Institute for her art “Stop the Violence”; and Ruth Pannill of Chamblee High School will receive a $2,500 scholarship to the Art Institute for her piece “What Do U See When U See Me?”

The audience was entertained by Isaiah Hill of Stephenson High School, who played two solos on a baby grand piano, and the Tucker Middle School Jazz Orchestra.