Rep. Johnson announces Congressional Arts Competition winners

Congressman hails diversity of participants; awards college scholarships

LITHONIA, GA – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced the winners of his 2011 Congressional Arts Competition and awarded four college scholarships worth more than $23,000 at the Lou Walker Senior Center this spring.

Aaron Tucker of Meadowcreek High School in Gwinnett County won the competition with “Peace in the Aftermath.” He won a $6,000 scholarship from Savannah College of Art and Design, and traveled to Washington, D.C., in June to see his art displayed in the Capitol tunnel, where it will hang with other award winners for a year.

“As education budgets become increasingly strained, the Congressional Arts Competition is an excellent way to help give the arts a boost in our schools,” said Rep. Johnson. “I’m pleased so many students from schools throughout the district participated this year. Diversity is our strength.”

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

Tekeyah Hall of McNair High School was first runner up and won a $10,000 scholarship to the Art Institute of Atlanta with her piece “Gaia’s Girls”; Perry Daniels of Providence Christian Academy was second runner up with a $5,000 scholarship to the Art Institute for her art “Vikings Way”; and Estephany Morales of Meadowcreek High was third runner up and received a $2,500 scholarship to the Art Institute for her piece “Recognizing You.”

Photo top: Hank takes time for his 2011 Arts Competition winner Aaron Tucker on Capitol Hill in Washington recently.

Photo above: More than 30 students from 18 schools in DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties participated in Hank's 2011 Congressional Arts Competition.

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