[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 75 (Thursday, May 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE MEMBERS OF THE D.C. CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION 
                               COMMITTEE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 2016

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing not only our outstanding high 
school artists in the District of Columbia who participated in this 
year's Congressional Art Competition, but also the D.C. Congressional 
Art Competition Committee which made this year's competition a success.
  Since its inception in 1982, the Congressional Art Competition has 
encouraged the artistic talents of high school students from across the 
country. This year my office received 135 pieces of artwork from 
students in grades 8 through 12 from 24 public, charter, and private 
schools in the District, the largest number of D.C. schools, that have 
ever participated in this annual art competition.
  But the untold story of the Congressional Art Competition is of the 
volunteers whose time and expertise are responsible for executing the 
entire competition. Here in the District of Columbia, this year's 
competition would not have been possible without the dedicated work of 
our D.C. Congressional Art Competition Committee:


                   Thomas Atkins, Owner, Tera Gallery

  Mr. Atkins, a former staff member whose many duties included the 
annual art competition, generously continues to serve as an advisor who 
assists wherever he is needed.


                 William Brower, Owner, JBV Production

  Mr. Brower provided the valuable services of setting up the venue for 
the reception, as well as clean up at the end of the evening.


               Yaida Ford, Attorney at Law, Ford Law Firm

  Ms. Ford did a tremendous amount of outreach to secure art supply 
donations and prizes for all of our student participants, including an 
iPad for the second place winner. She also dedicated her own time to 
volunteer for day-of operations at the D.C. Congressional Art 
Competition Reception.


           Tiffani Gomez, Sales Associate, Blick Art Supplies

  Ms. Gomez is one of the most passionate members of the committee. She 
helped secure art portfolios for student artwork, and helped with day-
of operations at the reception.


Eric Kokuma, Director of Member Services, Military Operations Research 
 Society; Jennifer Littrell, Program Lead, Children's National Health 
                                 System

  Mr. Kokuma and Ms. Littrell were in charge of entertainment for the 
reception, and recruited Ward 1 ANC Commissioner Frank Agbro to perform 
with his family jazz band.


             Donnell Lewis, President, One Creative Source

  Mr. Lewis is the generous and enormously capable longtime chairman of 
the committee.


 Camilo Manjarres, Congressional Fellow, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes 
                                 Norton

  Mr. Manjarres has worked diligently to facilitate committee meetings 
and logistics for our annual art competition, and expanded the 
competition's community outreach to increase participation.


               Patricia Mitchel, Systems Analyst, Amtrak

  Ms. Mitchel has been a very active member of the committee. She has 
worked tirelessly to secure food and drink donations for our reception, 
including cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes and food from &pizza.


Zoma Wallace, Curator and Art Bank Coordinator, D.C. Commission on Arts 
                             and Humanities

  Ms. Wallace took on the responsibility for the day-of logistics, and 
essentially curated the competition to make sure that all of the 
student art was strategically placed and easy for participants to 
review. She also served as a juror, and helped select this year's 
winners.
  I ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing each 
member of the D.C. Congressional Art Competition Committee for their 
indispensable work in this year's competition, and I take this 
opportunity to again thank the student artists for submitting such 
wonderful work.