BELLOWS FALLS — In a recent Zoom meeting with talented high school artists from across Vermont, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., announced the winners of the 40th annual Congressional Art Competition.
Winning an Honorable Mention County award was Riley Rice of Westminster, a student at Bellows Falls Union High School, whose piece, “Ezra,” was selected from a field of 160 entries from students across Vermont.
“I am amazed by the creativity of talented young artists across Vermont,” Welch said in a news release. “Picking a winner is always difficult because of the brilliant work of so many artists. Congratulations to Riley for their beautiful work. Riley clearly has a bright future in the arts.”
The Congressional Art Competition is a nationwide high school visual art competition initiated in 1981 by then-Rep. Jim Jeffords, of Vermont, to celebrate and encourage the artistic talent of young people from across the country.
High school students from across the country submit entries to their U.S. representatives. Each year, judges choose the best works of art from around the state.