Jesuit High Senior Wins 2022 Local Congressional Art Competition

BEAVERTON, OR — A senior at Jesuit High School won the Congressional Art Competition for Oregon's 1st Congressional District, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Beaverton) announced on May 12.

Sophia Gard will fly to Washington, where her piece, "Learning to Fly," will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

Beaverton High School senior Chloe Peck received an honorable mention for her work "Ghost Classroom." The piece will hang in Bonamici's district office for one year.

Bonamici released a statement thanking all the artists who submitted work to the competition. “Their creativity, expression, and technical ability were truly inspiring," she said.

"I made this piece because I wanted to reflect on good memories from my childhood," Gard said. "I was less strict over the whole process and really let myself enjoy sketching and picking out the colors, and I think the fun that I had making this drawing definitely shows through."

The Congressional Institute created the art competition. The institute is a nonprofit started in 1987 that helps members of Congress "better serve their communities" by organizing events such as the art competition. The competition is open to high school students.

The institute will fly Gard and other winners to Washington to celebrate their art. Each winner will be able to bring one guest.

"I’ve never received a prize as big as this for my art, and I am incredibly grateful and excited," Gard said. "I’m most looking forward to meeting the other winners at D.C.! It’s always great to connect with more people who share my passion for art.”