Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces Artistic Discovery Winners
For Immediate Release: May 11, 2013
Contact: Carrie Adams, 202-225-2661
Oakland, CA– Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) announced that San Leandro High School senior Sumedh Vedanthi was selected as the winner of the 31st annual Artistic Discovery High School Congressional Arts Competition representing California's 13th Congressional District. Congresswoman Lee announced the winner of this year’s competition during a ceremony at the Albert H. Dewitt Officers’ Club in Alameda on Saturday, May 11, 2013.
By finishing first, Vedanthi will have his “As Long As There Is Life” displayed in the corridor that connects the Cannon House Office Building with the U.S. Capitol for a year. Vedanthi will also receive a pair of round-trip tickets to attend a ceremony that will be held this summer in Washington D.C. to celebrate the winners of this year’s Congressional arts competition.
“I was impressed with the efforts of all of the students who participated in Artistic Discovery,” said Congresswoman Lee. “The creativity and energy of these students and their art is an inspiration to us all. I congratulate Sumedh and all of the students who participated in the competition.”
“An Artistic Discovery” is an annual Congressional art competition that recognizes emerging high school artists throughout the country. Eighty-four students from throughout the 13th Congressional District competed in this year’s competition. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since its inception, over 650,000 high students from throughout the country have participated in the competition.
Saint Joseph Notre Dame sophomore Julian Deguzman took home the competition’s second-place prize, and Pablo Gonzales, a senior from San Leandro High School, finished third.
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