U.S. Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Long Beach, poses for a picture alongside Millikan High School senior Andrew Cruz Lozano, who was named the winner of this year’s 37th Congressional District Arts Competition for his work titled “Freedom of Art” during a May 6 reception at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
4:13pm | The top two winners of the annual 37th District Congressional Arts Competition have been announced, and both are seniors at Millikan High School in Long Beach.
First place was awarded to Andrew Cruz Lozano, whose unique entry titled “Freedom of Art” features a computerized print of Uncle Sam with a printed shadow of Marilyn Monroe’s face inserted. Lozano will receive a round-trip flight to Washington, and his art will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol.
Second place went to Roberto Jesus Sanchez for his entry titled “What America is to Me is Opportunity,” a computerized print of The Declaration of Independence with shadow prints of students in support of public education. Sanchez’s art will be displayed in Rep. Laura Richardson’s Washington Capitol office for one year.
Verbum Dei High School junior Jesus A. Real won third place for his pencil drawing of “America, The Land of Opportunity.” His piece will be displayed in the 37th Congressional District Office in Long Beach for one year.
Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the members of the
U. S. House of Representatives to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in each congressional district.
Entrants in the competition hail from high schools in Carson, Compton, Long Beach, Signal Hill and Watts-Willowbrook.
The winners were announced at a May 6 reception held at Cal State Dominguez Hills, where all of the participants were recognized with a Congressional Certificate and a congratulatory letter from the congresswoman.
“I am always impressed with the talent and creativity of our students, who amaze me more at
each competition,” Richardson said in a statement. “Their dedication and commitment to art and particularly the subject matters they choose to draw from is a reminder of how appreciative they are to be Americans and share this wonder land of opportunity we have.”