Vilonia student wins national honor

For the next year, politicians in Washington, D.C., will have a reminder of the artistic talent of a Vilonia student.

Alyssa Grady of Vilonia High School, has been named as the winner of the 2009 Congressional Art Competition, sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives with her piece entitled, "True Love."

The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation as well as in each Congressional District.

High school art teacher Sandy Ragland said schools in the 2nd Congressional District of Arkansas were allowed to enter up to 12 works each. High school students who live in the district Conway, Faulkner, Perry, Pulaski, Saline, Van Buren, White, and Yell counties were eligible for the competition. This year, there were 87 entries from 22 different high schools participating.

"Vilonia art students won first and second place out of over 1,000 students," Ragland said. "Hannah Mosby (also of Vilonia) came in a very close second. There were three other runners-up, after Hannah."

Grady's artwork will be on display in a busy corridor that connects the Cannon House Office Building with the U.S. Capitol and used daily by Congress and visitors to Washington, D.C. for the next year. She will also receive airline tickets to a ribbon-cutting ceremony this summer.

Described by Ragland as having "few words and great visuals," a shy 17-year-old, Grady said she is excited about the honor. Her friend, Brooke, she said, who has an infant inspired the painting with many facets and colors.

"I thought it would make her feel good," Grady said. While she hasn't made a career choice yet, she knows it will include art.

Mosby, 17, who enrolled in art in eighth grade, said she has always been interested in art beginning with coloring books when she was a small child.

"I could go through a couple of coloring books a day," she said. She plans to become a museum curator when she graduates college.

Both juniors, this is not the only contest where their talents have been recognized. And, they are not the only Vilonia High School artists being recognized. Five students won five awards in the ASU Beebe art competition this year.

"We had three first place, a third place and an honorable mention, Ragland said. First place awards were presented to Hannah Mosby, Jessica Bowden and Brooklyn Brixey. Third place went to Justin Vandeerveer and Jessica Campbell received the Honorable Mention.

"In an even more prestigious competition, Katherine Marcotte and Alyssa Grady placed in the Young Arkansas Artists' State Art Competition," Ragland said. "Alyssa's was also chosen to tour the state next year in the ArtMobile."

"My kids have done some great stuff this year," Ragland added. And, she expects they will continue to excel. A grant from the Vilonia Waterworks will allow students, next year, to complete a series of watercolor scenes. When finished, Ragland said, the paintings will be matted and framed and hung in that office.

Greg Hogan, junior high art teacher, said he loves to boast about Vilonia art students.

"I see a lot of the fruits of my labor continued over at the high school," he said. Also, he brags that his younger students are excelling.

"I had an eighth grader Dallin Duke, to win honorable mention for the Young Arkansas Artist's State Art Competition, Hogan said. In the ASU Beebe Junior High School Art Competition ninth grader Chase Fulcher won honorable mention. Also in the Conway Historic Art in Architecture

Amber Hill placed second, Aaron Little, third place and honorable mention Jessica Pritchard from the ninth grade.

"I think that is pretty impressive of winners that we have from Vilonia," Hogan concluded.