Cha places in Third Congressional District Art Competition

Seven high school students from across Northwest Arkansas, including Matthew Cha of Siloam Springs, were awarded for their creativity during the Third Congressional District Art Competition awards presentation on Thursday.

The event was held at the Siloam Springs Public Library, marking the first time the award presentation was held in Siloam Springs under Congressman Steve Womack, according to Kyle Weaver, projects director for the congressman.

In previous years, the competition has been held in Bentonville, Rogers, Fayetteville, Springdale and Fort Smith, so Womack's office decided to bring it off the Interstate 49 corridor this year, Weaver said.

"To be honest, Siloam Springs has not only participated consistently in this competition, they've done well," Weaver said, adding that he was excited to hold the awards ceremony in Siloam Springs this year.

The Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition each spring, according to the House website www.house.gov. The first place winner from each Congressional district will have their artwork hang in the Congressional hall for one year. They also get a trip to Washington D.C. to see their artwork on display.

A total of 108 high school students from throughout the Third Congressional District entered the competition this year, Weaver said. A total of 26 Siloam Springs students and 16 Gentry students participated. This is the first time the contest has had more than 100 entries, and over the past two years there has been an average of 75 entries, he said.

Womack said the contest brings out the creative talent in his district and across the country.

"I expect (the competition) will grow as the area continues to grow and appreciation for the arts goes up in our area," Womack said.

Mollie Nichols, a sophomore at Haas Hall Academy won first place for her mixed media piece titled "Bradford Pear." In addition to the top five students, a people's choice award and patriots award were presented.

Cha, a junior at Siloam Springs High School, won fourth place in the competition for his pen and ink drawing titled "My Backyard." Cha said that his love of nature inspired the piece.

All of the awards, except the people's choice award, were selected by a panel of judges, which included Dylan Turk, curatorial assistant at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; Sharon Killian, Fayetteville Underground board president; and Christy Barnett, Siloam Springs community member and arts patron. Community members voted for their favorite for the people's choice award on Womack's Facebook page.

Womack created the Patriots Award to recognize artwork that shows patriotism. The award was won by Kenleigh Godwin, a junior at Southside High School, for a painting that depicted a diverse progression of soldiers from World War I to the present.

Each of the award winners received a free one-year membership to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

All of the entries can be viewed on Womack's Facebook page.

Winners of the Third District Congressional Art Awards were:

• People's Choice -- Cailey Funkhouser of Life Way Christian School

• Patriot Award -- Kenleigh Godwin of Southside High School

• Fifth place -- Blake Selby of Life Way Christian School

• Fourth place -- Matthew Cha of Siloam Springs High School

• Third place -- Sarah Burris of Flippin High School

• Second place -- Haley Solera of Life Way Christian School.

• First place -- Mollie Nichols of Haas Hall Academy.