Meng Honors Elmhurst, Queens Student in Washington for Winning Congressional Art Contest

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) recently honored Elmhurst student Samiya Fagun, the winner of the Congresswoman’s fourth annual Congressional district art contest, in Washington, D.C.

Meng’s competition, which consisted of entries from Queens high school students, is part of “An Artistic Discovery,” the national art contest sponsored each year by the House of Representatives that showcases the artwork of all Congressional district art contest winners from across the nation.

Fagun, 18, who graduated from Elmhurst’s Newtown High School last month, took part in the competition’s opening ceremonies on Capitol Hill that recognized her exceptional artistic talents as well as those of all the other young artists from around the country.

Her winning artwork – along with other winning pieces from art contests in Congressional districts throughout the United States – will now be displayed for one year in the historic Cannon Tunnel, a heavily traveled corridor of the United States Capitol.

Fagun was also awarded an “Outstanding Achievement Award” signed by House Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Fagun was invited to Washington by Meng after she won the art contest in April. She travelled to and from the nation’s capital with her mother and brother. She is the first student of Bangladeshi descent to win Meng’s competition.

Meng announced Fagun as the winner during a reception she hosted for students who entered the contest, an event that also included their families, art teachers, principals and school administrators. It was held in April at the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, where all of the submitted artwork had been on display.

Fagun won the competition for her watercolor drawing entitled “Moments of Life.” She plans to attend City College of New York in the fall.

A total of 46 Queens students from 13 high schools throughout the borough participated in the contest. Meng presented all of them with certificates of Congressional recognition. There was also a first runner-up whose artwork will be displayed for one year in Meng’s Washington office, and a second runner-up whose entry will be displayed for one year in the Congresswoman’s Flushing office.

The judges of the competition consisted of officials and staff members from the Queens Museum.

“It was an honor to welcome Samiya to Washington and I once again congratulate her for winning this competitive contest,” said Meng. “She is a very talented young lady and her artwork represents our district well in the nation’s capital. She has a bright future and I wish her nothing but the best.”

This year marks the 35th anniversary of “An Artistic Discovery.” More than 650,000 high school students throughout the United States have participated since the competition began in 1982.