For Immediate Release

May 19, 2008

 

LoBiondo Congratulates Winners of Annual Congressional Art Competition from South Jersey High Schools

“Mystery” by Suzann Petrongolo from Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Newfield will be on Display for One Year at U.S. Capitol

 

MAYS LANDING, N.J. – After reviewing more than 50 submissions from South Jersey high school students, U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) congratulated Suzann Petrongolo of Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Newfield for winning the 2008 Congressional Art Competition. Ms. Petrongolo’s piece, “Mystery,” will be displayed in Washington, D.C. for one year in the tunnel connecting the Cannon House Office Building and the U.S. Capitol, which is part of the main tour route of visitors to the U.S. Capitol.

“I congratulate Suzann for her ingenuity and creativity on display in ‘Mystery’ and I believe her piece will be outstanding addition to the U.S. Capitol,” said LoBiondo. “The annual Congressional Art Competition rightly encourages young artists in our communities, and I am pleased to again have my office participate.”

For the first time this year, the winning artists will also receive cash awards from the Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund out of Atlantic City. The Fund commemorates the life of local writer, poet and photographer Jennifer Cakert, who died in June 2006. More information on the Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund can be found at http://jan-ai.com/. Ms. Petrongolo received $350 from the Fund. (The Office of Congressman LoBiondo was contacted by the Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund in order to participate in the Congressional Art Competition. The cash gift has been reviewed and approved by the Committee on the Standards of Official Conduct in the House of Representatives.)

 

The 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th prize winners were Nikki Liao of Absegami High School in Galloway, Alfonso Luna Jimenez of Bridgeton High School, and Rocio Martinez of Atlantic City High School, respectively. The Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund awarded cash prizes of $250, $150 and $100, respectively, to the artists. Additionally, the second and third place submissions will be displayed in LoBiondo’s Washington, DC (2^nd Place) and Mays Landing (3^rd Place) offices.

Receiving “Honorable Mention” was Nikki Liao of Absegami High School in Galloway for her second submission, “Forever Young.” She will receive an additional $75 from the Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund. LoBiondo announced the winners at a public viewing and reception Friday night at Ivy League Mortgage in Linwood.

 

Judging the students’ submissions at Friday’s reception were: Kathleen Arleth of Greate Bay Gallery in Somers Point; Dara Ellis of the Cornerstone Commerce Center Executive Office; Joe Duffy from the Jai Ai Scholarship Fund; and, Eric Weeks of EZ Memories Photography in Linwood. Submissions could be: paintings (oil, acrylics, watercolor etc); drawings (pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers); collage (must be two-dimensional); prints (lithographs, silkscreen, block prints); mixed media (use of two or more mediums); computer-generated art; or, photography.

Local businesses who donated time and services to the Friday night reception were: Lorraine Thompson of the Atlantic City Hilton; American Abstract LLC in Linwood; Wards Bakery of Ocean City; International Hairport in Linwood; Cornerstone Commerce Center & Executive Offices in Linwood; Ocean City High School; and the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

 

“I want to personally thank Ivy League Mortgage for again hosting the public viewing and reception for the young artists; the Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund for its generous gifts to the winning entries; and the judges who volunteered their time to participate. Additionally, the evening was truly memorable due to the generous donations and sponsorships of so many local businesses,” concluded LoBiondo.

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An electronic photo of Congressman LoBiondo with 1^st place winner Suzann Petrongolo and her artwork, “Mystery,” is attached to this correspondence.

<<05-16-08 Suzann Petrongolo with LoBiondo.jpg>>

 

Jason P. Galanes

Communications Director

Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02)

202.225.6572 (office)

202.374.1914 (cell)

202.225.3318 (fax)

2427 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

www.house.gov/lobiondo