Gulfport student wins 4th District Congressional Art Forum

POPLARVILLE – A student from Gulfport High School has been named overall winner of the 2013 Congressional Art Forum hosted by 4th District Congressman Steven Palazzo.
Sydney Garguilo’s painting titled “Gulf Coast Blue Crab” will hang in the U.S. Capitol tunnel in Washington, D.C., for a year along with the works of other high school artists from around the country. Garguilo also will receive an expense-paid trip to attend a reception for the winners.
Marissa Hakes of Petal High School was named overall runner up with a mixed media entry titled “Alter Ego.” Her piece will hang in Palazzo’s Gulfport office.
Palazzo announced the awards Monday, March 25, at Pearl River Community College where the work is on display.
“I never get tired of participating in this,” he said. “The artwork is fantastic, and the students I meet are even more fantastic.”
Garguilo and Hakes were the first-place winners in their respective categories of painting and mixed media.
Other winners by category are:
Painting – Cecilia Grace of Gulfport High, second; Summer Wilson of West Jones High, third.
Drawing – Hannah Hutson of West Jones, first; Tracey Nguyen of Perry Central High School, second; and Shelby Ishee of West Jones, third.
Mixed media – Morgan Breitling of West Jones, second, and Tobiath Wilson of Columbia, third.
Computer-generated – Jagannath Nicaud of Columbia High School, first.
Photography – Weston Widener of West Jones, first.
Collage – Emily Sullivan of West Jones, first; Kimberly Simmons of Petal, second; and Peyton Cliburn of Petal, third.
Students from Forrest County Agricultural and South Jones high schools also entered work.
Judges were Dr. Amy Townsend, Maggie Smith and Jason Ramshur, all of PRCC.

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Fourth District Congressman Steven Palazzo presents the blue ribbon to West Jones High School student Hannah Hutson in the drawing cateogry in the 2013 Congressional Art Forum. The artwork is on display at Pearl River Community College.
PRCC Public Relations photo

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Congressman Steven Palazzo presents the blue ribbon for photography in the 2013 Congressional Art Forum to Weston Widener, a student at West Jones High School.
PRCC Public Relations photo

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Fourth District Rep. Steven Palazzo presents the second place award in mixed media to Morgan Breitling of West Jones High School at the 2013 Congressional Art Forum at Pearl River Community College.
PRCC Public Relations photo

Each community college president is asked to bring two (2) wrapped door prizes, minimum value of $50 each. We will have a station set up at the conference for you to drop off the door prizes.

Each community college is asked to provide name tags for their Board members, administration, and staff attending the conference.