Rep. Johnson announces 2013 Congressional Arts Competition winners

LITHONIA, GA – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced the winners of his 2013 Congressional Arts Competition and awarded four college scholarships worth more than $20,000 on April 20 at the Lou Walker Senior Center.

Since 2007, Congressman Johnson has awarded more than $220,000 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.”

More than 20 high school students from DeKalb, Rockdale, Gwinnett and Newton counties submitted artwork competing for the four college scholarships.

Nia Gray of Phoenix High School in Gwinnett County won a $6,000 scholarship from Savannah College of Art and Design for “Melancholy.” Gray will travel to Washington, D.C., in June to see her art displayed in the Capitol tunnel, where it will hang with other award winners for a year. Miss Gray won two roundtrip airline tickets to Washington, D.C., for the National Recognition Ceremony.

Donna Colby of Miller Grove High School won a $10,000 scholarship to the Art Institute of Atlanta with her piece “Celebrate”; Lydia Hancock of Lilburn, who is home schooled, won a $5,000 scholarship to the Art Institute for her art “Last Battle”; and Matthew Orozco of Phoenix High School will receive a $2,500 scholarship to the Art Institute for his piece: “Dedication.”

The audience was entertained by Dunaire Elementary’s Dynamic Dolphins Xylophone Ensemble, which is based in Stone Mountain, and pianist Isaiah Hill of Stephenson High School.

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