Cohen Congratulates Winner of 2016 Congressional Art Competition

***Photos Available***

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) welcomed recent Overton High School graduate Cassie Rutherford to his Capitol Hill office to congratulate her on winning this year’s Congressional Art Competition. As the Ninth District’s winner, Ms. Rutherford’s piece, a photograph entitled “Railroad,” will hang in public view on Capitol Hill for the next year. A photo of Ms. Rutherford’s winning piece is available here, and a photo of Ms. Rutherford with Congressman Cohen can be found here.

“Cassie’s artwork shows just how talented and accomplished our city’s young artists are,” said Congressman Cohen. “I was proud to select ‘Railroad’ – a unique perspective of an iconic landmark in the city of Memphis, the Harahan Bridge – as the winner of this year’s Congressional Art Competition. This artwork particularly caught my eye because 2016 is the year of the Harahan Bridge. The biking and walking path being constructed across the bridge will be completed and opened October 22. This pathway is part of the Main-to-Main project awarded from the federal TIGER grant in 2012.”

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each Congressional District. The competition provides an opportunity for Members of Congress to highlight the artistic talents of their young constituents.

Students can submit entries to their Representative’s office, and the Congressperson selects the winning entry, which is then displayed for one year in the Capitol. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Since the art competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Click here to learn more about the art competition.