(Washington, DC) - U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) recently honored in Washington, D.C., Great Neck resident Jean Young Jeong, winner of the Congressman’s “Fifth Congressional District Art Contest,” the annual competition consisting of entries from high schools within Ackerman’s district in Queens and Long Island. Jeong, a senior at Great Neck South High School, was invited to Washington by Ackerman to attend a Congressional ceremony that recognized her outstanding artistic talents as well as the talents of other young artists from across the nation.

Jeong’s winning artwork—along with winning entries from art contests in Congressional districts throughout the United States—will be displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel, a special corridor of the United States Capitol. Her winning piece was a pencil drawing entitled “Memory of Winter."

Jeong was crowned as the winner of Ackerman’s art contest during a reception the Congressman hosted for students, parents and teachers at the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn Harbor, where all of the submitted artwork had been on display for four weeks. A total of 60 entries were submitted by students for this year’s contest.

In addition to the winner, two runner-ups were selected. They included:
 
1st Runner-up from Nassau County: Minku Kim from Great Neck North High School.
1st Runner-up from Queens: Norma Villamar of the Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica Estates.

Entries were done in several mediums including paintings (oil, watercolors, acrylic, etc.), collages, drawings and prints (lithographs, silk screens, etc). Judges consisted of a juried panel of artists and art educators.

Ackerman’s art contest is part of “An Artistic Discovery,” an annual Congressional arts competition presently in its 25th year. Ackerman has participated each year since he was elected to Congress in 1983.

“Jean Young is an outstanding artist and a charming young lady” said Ackerman. “I am proud of her as well as all of the students who participated.”

###

Return to Gary's Homepage