Congressional Art Show Winner To Receive Scholarship

[DENVER, CO, April 8, 2009] – Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette (D-CO) announced that Thomas Jefferson High School student Alden Weissfeld won the 2009 First District Congressional Arts Competition. As part of the award, Weissfeld’s painting titled, “An Old Time,” will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. He will also accompany Rep. DeGette to a special reception this summer in the nation’s capital.

“I am pleased to award Alden the Best of Show Award and the honor of having his work displayed in the U.S. Capitol,” said Rep. DeGette. “I am incredibly impressed with the quality of art from our talented students in this year’s competition. I am very proud of all of our student artists and our Denver area high school’s art education programs.”

The First District Congressional Arts Competition is part of a nationwide program, titled An Artistic Discovery, in which Members of Congress raise awareness of the importance of art education by recognizing outstanding artistic students from their Congressional districts. This year, 42 high school students from the First District submitted artworks for the competition.

“The Art Institute of Colorado has hosted this art show for the past eight years and I am thrilled to see how this show continues to get larger with remarkable talent.  On behalf of the school, we are pleased to reward these efforts today by awarding $18,000 in scholarships to the top winners of the competition. Our Best of Show winner, Alden Weissfeld, will receive a $5,000 scholarship to The Art Institute of Colorado,” said Art Institute of Colorado President David Zorn.

Since 2001, The Art Institute of Colorado has hosted this art exhibit, which showcases the art and photography of junior and senior high school students from the First Congressional District.  Weissfeld’s winning painting and the other works of art from the First Congressional District Arts Competition submissions can be viewed at the John Jellico Gallery, at The Art Institute of Colorado, 1200 Lincoln Street in Denver until May 4. The exhibit is open to the public at no cost.

About The Art Institute of Colorado
For over 55 years, The Art Institute of Colorado (www.artinstitutes.edu/denver) has been a vital resource to the metro Denver community. It offers career-focused bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in the areas of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts. The Art Institute of Colorado is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. (30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL, 60602, 1.800.621.7440, www.ncahlc.org). The Art Institute of Colorado is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 40 education institutions throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.