The winners of the 2018 Annual Congressional Art Competition were announced by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who sponsors the annual show for high school students in the Fourth Congressional District.

 “The 2018 competition was one of the largest in 25 years,” Smith said. “We had many talented entries from across Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties.  I congratulate ‘Best-in-Show’ winner, Jordan Heine. Her ‘American Graffiti’ was amazing. I congratulate all the winners and participants. The judges had a tough time picking the winners because of the amount of quality entries.”

Watch slide show on left (18 photos).

The event, which Smith sponsored, was hosted by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton). Work was hung March 19 and closed Thursday, April 12, following an award presentation. RWJ Hamilton President and CEO Richard Freeman was on hand for the ceremony.

“Robert Wood Johnson University-Hospital graciously hosted this competition at its wonderful Lakefront Tower Gallery,” Smith said. “Hospital visitors, as well as employees and patients have again responded positively to the show.”

Judging took place at RWJ Hamilton on March 23. The eight winners are:

Best in Show (PICTURED)-Jordan Heine, 11th Grade, Wall High School; “American Graffiti” (acrylic on canvas)

• First Place Runner-up- Micayla Augustyn, 12th Grade, Wall High School, “Dog Daze of Summer” (oil on canvas)

• Second Place Runner-up- Kylie Frew, 10th Grade, Freehold Township High School; “City Hall” (colored pencil)

• Third Place Runner-up- Brynna Fisher, 10th Grade, Princeton Day School; “The Point of Construction” (mixed media collage)

• Honorable Mention- Keon Cooper, 12th Grade, Hamilton High East (Steinert) School; “Savion” (digital painting)

Honorable Mention- Sarah Fakult, 11th Grade, Freehold Township Regional High School; “Empower the Bully Breed with Flowers” (oil on canvas)

Honorable Mention- Gazal Mathur, 9th Grade, Robbinsville High School; “Sea’s Sick” (colored pencil)

Honorable Mention-Photography - Cece McCarthy, 12th Grade, Red Bank Regional High School; “Sky Light” (digital photography)

    The 2018 judges were Debbie Jencsik of Ocean County, N.J.; Jim Inzero, also of Ocean County, N.J., and; Rich Thompson of Mercer County, N.J.

    “I am grateful to the judges for lending their time and expertise to this show,” Smith said. “I also thank RWJ-Hamilton President Richard Freeman and his staff, as well as the invaluable assistance of Lakefront Gallery curator Sheila Geisler and other members of the Princeton Photo Club which manages shows at the gallery. They all did an amazing job.” Click here for a summary of the judges’ biographies.

    Every year the Congressional Institute sponsors this national high school visual art competition to recognize and foster artistic talent in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Participation in the contest is at the discretion of each Member office. Students submit entries to their Member of Congress’s office, and a panel of district judges select the winners. The Best in Show winners are recognized at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., and are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.

    For more information about the 2018 NJ-04 show or to view recent year winners, click here. News about the 2019 competition will be posted on the same site in February or March 2019.