Monte Vista High School Student Wins Local Congressional Art Award

DANVILLE, CA — The work of a Danville high school student is getting recognized in a big way.

Menglin Cai, a sophomore at Monte Vista High School, is the winner of the 2022 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 11th Congressional District, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier announced in a news release Tuesday.

Cai’s watercolor painting “Growing Up” will be on display in the United State Capitol, the release said. The competition was for all high school students in the 11th congressional district.

“It was a joy to host the Congressional Art Competition again this year and to see the incredible talent demonstrated by our community’s young artists,” DeSaulnier said. “I’m excited to congratulate Menglin and all of the other students who participated in the 2022 competition. I am inspired by the creativity of every artist who submitted a piece this year and look forward to seeing Menglin’s art representing Contra Costa County in the halls of Congress.”

Second place went to Joseph Pak from the College Preparatory School for his piece “Uprising” and third place went to Concord High School senior Amelia Porter for her quilted fabric collage “I’m Not Okay,” the release said. Their art will be on display in Congressman DeSaulnier’s Walnut Creek office and Richmond office.

Schools all across the district submitted 23 pieces for the competition that were evaluated by judges from the Contra Costa Community College District, Los Medanos College, and Contra Costa College, the release said. More than 650,000 students have participated in the Congressional Art Competition since 1982.