Thompson Announces Emma Zacherl, of Clarion County, as Winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Contest

WASHINGTON, D.C – U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson today announced the winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition: Emma Zacherl, a freshman at Clarion-Limestone High School.

Ms. Zacherl, of Clarion, won for her water mixable oils painting of her dog, titled "Good Boy, Archie!" An independent panel of judges selected Ms. Zacherl's work from a record 125 entries, which is the largest group of students to participate in Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District Art Competition. The winners were announced Saturday during an exhibit at the Winkler Gallery of Fine Art in DuBois, Pa.

“Congratulations to Ms. Emma Zacherl on winning first place in this years’ competition,” Rep. Thompson said. “Emma is incredibly talented and a remarkable artist. Her artwork blew me away and I look forward to welcoming her to Washington, D.C. to celebrate this accomplishment.”

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents.  Since then, more than 650,000 high school students have participated in the nationwide competition.

Ms. Zacherl’s artwork will be displayed in a special exhibit in the U.S. Capitol for one year with winners from each congressional district in the nation. She is invited to attend a reception in Washington, D.C. with other winners, which will take place in June.

2024 Congressional Art Competition Winners:

First Place 
NAME: Emma Zacherl
SCHOOL: Clarion-Limestone High School
SUBMISSION: Good Boy, Archie!
HOMETOWN: Clarion, Pa.
TEACHER: Kenda Zerbe

Second Place
NAME:  Rosalynn Renfrew
SCHOOL:  Keystone High School
SUBMISSION: Beauty of Self
HOMETOWN: Knox, Pa.
TEACHER: Janet Hockman

Third Place 
NAME:  Morgan Hoare
SCHOOL:  DuBois Area High School
SUBMISSION: What is Love?
HOMETOWN:  DuBois, Pa.
TEACHER:  Cheyenne Kanouff

Fourth Place 
NAME:  Julia Lee Butler
SCHOOL:  Armstrong Junior Senior High School
SUBMISSION: Flower
HOMETOWN:  Kittanning, Pa.
TEACHER:  Alexis Kovalovsky

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