Press Releases

Lowell, MA. — Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) this evening named Lowell High School junior Kevin Truong as the Third District winner of the annual Congressional Art Competition during a reception at her District Office.

Truong will be invited to Washington, DC for the annual awards ceremony in June and his work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. His piece, titled “Mirror,” and is an ink, self-figure drawing overlaying his hand-written poetry. He said it “represents the thoughts and feelings I experience when looking into a mirror.”

"This competition is the perfect venue to showcase the importance of recognizing the creative arts in the lives of our students and encourage them to participate in artistic endeavors whenever possible," said Rep. Trahan.  “I am proud of all the remarkable students who participated in this competition, and congratulate the winner, Kevin Truong, for being selected as the winner. I am honored to continue this special tradition of celebrating young artists across our district, our Commonwealth, and the entire United States.” 

“Art was never the finished piece, it was everything leading up to it. Thank you to Congresswoman Trahan for giving me this amazing opportunity. It is a blessing that I am the winner,” said Kevin Truong.

Congresswoman Trahan’s office received 40 entries from students across the district. Congresswoman Trahan invited several area art experts to help her choose the winner, including Mount Wachusett Community College Professor of Art Thomas Matsuda, Lawrence Public Library Director Jessica Valentin, University of Massachusetts at Lowell Art and Design Department Chair Jehanne-Marie Gavarini, and Northern Essex Community College Art and Design Department Chair Michelle Carter.

Congresswoman Lori Trahan and 2019 MA-03 CAC winner Kevin Truong

About the Art Competition: Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol. In addition, the winner will be invited to a celebratory reception in Washington D.C. on June 24, 2019 and will be provided with two roundtrip airfare tickets on Southwest Airlines for their travel.

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