Date:  June 12, 2001
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703) 791-8720

Jessica Oyhenart, a student at Brentsville District Middle/High School, won the “Best of Show” ribbon in the Tenth Congressional District Art Show held in May at the Wakefield School in the Plains. Jessica’s artwork, “Mona,” was a mixed-media/collage.  

Since May, Jessica’s artwork has been displayed in the U.S. Capitol building where it hangs in an area dedicated to the artistic talents of today’s youth for a year.  She received a flag that was flown over the Capitol and a $500 scholarship from a local business.  Marcia Pyner, Jessica’s art teacher at Brentsville, helped develop her talents.

The art competition is sponsored by Congressman Frank Wolf and is open to all high school students residing in the Tenth Congressional District.  According to Janelle White, co-chairman of the art show, the nationwide competition was launched in 1982 by the U.S. House of Representatives to encourage the growth and development of art.  More than 500,000 high school students participate nationwide. 

Fourteen schools and over 200 students participated and displayed artwork.  Jessica also won a “First Place” ribbon in the ink category for “Manolo.”  Also from Brentsville, Heather Cernoch received first place for her acrylic “Split-Portrait” and Kati White placed first in both the colored pencil and mixed media categories for “Homeland” and “Pieces of Me,” respectively. 

Winners from Osbourn Park High School students  included Ashley Nguyen, watercolor, “Birdie;” Christine Piry, pastel, “Summer’s Eve;” Jennifer Leslie, charcoal/pencil/graphite, 
“Self-Portrait;” Leslie Gengo, collage, “I Live for Music;” and Jasmine Wilson, linoleum 
print, “Twilight.” Vicki Burns and Trina McFarland are the Osbourn Park art teachers.