Category: News || By Submitted Report

Four students from the Mon-Yough area were among those honored in an annual Congressional High School Arts Competition.

First prize went to Iesha Grady of Penn Hills High School, whose pastel drawing will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year, said Matt Dinkel, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, Forest Hills Democrat. Grady's artwork was selected from among 45 entries, Dinkel said.

Local winners included Maggie Morgans, West Mifflin Area High School, second place, pastel drawing entitled "Snowmaggedon"; Stephanie Taylor, South Allegheny High School, fifth place, oil painting entitled "Shades of Green."

Taylor, who also received an honorable mention this year, has placed artwork in the competition for three consecutive years, Dinkel said, winning first place in 2010 and second place in 2011.

"I don't know how the judges were able to pick a winner," Doyle said. "The hard work and dedication that these students put into their work is clear, and their artistic talents are quite evident in the artwork they submitted. They all should be proud of their creativity and talent."

Winners were announced and recognized at an awards ceremony held at Carnegie Mellon University's student center in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood.

The competition was sponsored by the Congressional Arts Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives. Doyle has hosted the event for 17 years. All public and private high school students within Doyle's 14th District are invited to participate.

Ten students received honorable mentions for their artwork, including Alexis Yauch of McKeesport Area High School and Julian Moriarty of Woodland Hills High School.

"Every year, I am amazed at the talent and creativity of the young people in our communities," Doyle said. "It is my pleasure to acknowledge and recognize these individuals and their artistic abilities by sponsoring this event each year."

Other winners included Sara Hopkins, Northgate High School, third place, pencil drawing entitled "Britney"; and Jasper Means, Penn Hills High School, fourth place, watercolor entitled "Life Saving Station #7."

Honorable mentions were awarded to Morgan Turner and Sara Hopkins of Northgate High School; Mikaila Hoffman of Pittsburgh's Taylor Allderdice High School; Dan O'Leary, Erin Hart and Ashley Reid of Riverview High School; and Elizabeth Thornton of Sto-Rox High School.

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