St. Johnsbury Academy
senior Holly Greenleaf shows the painting that earned her first place in this
year’s Vermont Congressional Arts Competition.
Three St. Johnsbury Academy students, including a first
place award winner, are among the honorees in the 29th annual Vermont
Congressional Arts Competition.
Senior Holly Greenleaf of St. Johnsbury earned top state
honors in the Competition with her mixed media painting, titled “Milking Time” while
junior Daniel Lloyd Miller from Shelburne received a Judges Choice Award for
his acrylic painting “Red Dawn,” and sophomore Faith Darling of Passumpsic was
awarded a “Congressman’s Choice” prize by U.S. Representative Peter Welch
(D-VT).
Seven other Academy students were selected by their Art
teachers to participate in the competition. They include seniors Alexandra
Bussiere and Emily McDowell, both from St. Johnsbury, Jacob Van Der Eems of
Lower Waterford, Linnea McMath of East Hardwick, Kathryn Roosa of Barnet, and
Katie Dabal from New Jersey; and junior Levi Tetreault from Lyndonville..
Co-founded in 1981 by former Vermont U.S. Representative and
Senator James Jeffords, the competition was designed to recognize the artistic
talents and creativity of American high school students, and emphasize the
importance of Arts education.
Contests are held in congressional districts nationwide with
state winners invited to display their works at the U.S. Capitol building in
Washington, D.C. for a year.
Representative Welch now sponsors the Vermont contest in
partnership with the Vermont Arts Council.
This year’s Vermont competition attracted 175 works created
by students from 38 Vermont high
schools, according to the Arts Council website, www.vermontartscouncil.org.
The honorees were recognized Monday, May 10 during a public reception
and award ceremony at the TW Wood Gallery in Montpelier.
In a speech at the award ceremony, Congressman Welch cited
the importance of art as a vehicle to promote mutual understanding within our
culture, acknowledging the courage required for a young artist to submit work
for public display.
Greenleaf’s state title in the competition is the second won
by an Academy student artist in the last three years. Elizabeth Gingue, a
member of the school’s Class of 2008, won the crown her senior year.
Additional information about Academy Arts programs is
available by visiting the school’s website at www.stjohnsburyacademy.org.
> 
