BRIDGEPORT, CT—Students from around the Fourth District gathered Saturday for Congressman Jim Himes’ (CT-4) Congressional Art Competition, where Shannon Magnaldi of Fairfield won first place. Shannon attends Fairfield Warde High School and won with a black and white photograph titled “Off Peak.” Her photograph will hang in a corridor of the United States Capitol along with the winning pieces from across the country for one year. Shannon and the other winners will attend a ceremony in Washington later this month.

Click here for a photo of Himes with Shannon and her winning piece, “Off Peak.”

Click here for more photos from the event.

“Congratulations to Shannon and the other participants,” Himes said.  “The arts are an essential part of a well-rounded education, and I am pleased to see so much creativity coming out of the schools of Southwest Connecticut.”

The competition drew over 60 entries from across the Fourth District. The first runner up was Ian Barsanti of Westport, and the second runner up was Michael Shepard of New Canaan. Noah Johnson of Westport and Saurav Acharya of Milford (who attends school in the Fourth District) received honorable mention recognition.

The competition was judged by an independent panel of artists, including Jackie Lightfield, Special Advisor to the Greater Norwalk Arts Council and Co-Founder of Norwalk 2.0; Helen During, Visual Arts Director and Curator for the Westport Arts Center; Darien-based artist Jan Raymond; New York-based artist Xiomáro; Bridgeport-based artist Ricky Mestre; and Norwalk-based artist Duvian Montoya.

For more information about the Congressional Arts Competition, click here.