MCHS Students Take Top Honors In Art Competition
For the second year in a row a student from McDonald County High School is the winner in Missouri’s 7th District Congressional Art Competition.
Katelyn Clark, of Southwest City, a j unior at McDonald County High School, kept the 7th District Congressional Art Competition title at MCHS after classmate Kelsey Thornton, of Noel, won the award in 2014.
Clark’s winning selection is her pencil drawing entitled, “My Sanity.” Her work will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol with other winning pieces from across the nation. She will have the opportunity to attend a ceremony in Washington, D.C., to unveil the winning artwork.
Clark said this was her first year to enter the competition and was surprised and excited to win.
“It’s an honor to have my drawing at the U.S. Capitol,” Clark said. “It was quite a surprise when Ms. Bergen (Charlene Bergen, MCHS art teacher) told me I had won.”
Clark’s drawing is of saddle sitting atop of a horse. The title, “My Sanity,” has a personal connection for Clark.
“My dad died in 2012 and we loved to ride horses together,” Clark said. “After he died, I would ride to help me get through it.”
Thornton’s second place winner was her pencil drawing entitled, “Family Farmhouse.” Not only did Thornton win last year and finish second this year, she was second as a freshman in 2013.
“At first I didn’t think I could enter since I won it last year,” Thornton said. “Ms. Bergen told me I could, so I said, ‘sure.’ I was pretty excited to get second.”
Bergen said the Congressional competition is one of the most important the school has throughout the year.
“We try to put in two entries every year and the caliber we had this year is just unbelievable,” Bergen said. “It couldn’t have happened to two better girls. They are not only great artists, but also kids of high character and hard working. I think that is the key. They are hardworking and stay with it to get it they way they want it.”
Bergen said it is almost unimaginable to get first and second in a competition that encompasses the entire 7th Congressional District.
“When Katelyn told me she that she got her airplane tickets in the mail this week, I thought ‘ this is really special,’” Bergen said. “It is something they will never forget. It’s special to me because Dennis (husband) and I going to work our vacation around it and be there for the ceremony.”
Nicolas Henderson from Strafford High School is this year’s third place winner. The People’s Choice winner, voted by students and constituents on Long’s Facebook page, is also Clark’s first place winning pencil drawing. The second place and third place winners will be invited to display their work in one of Long’s district offices.
The Congressional Art Competition allows members of Congress to inspire and appreciate the artistic talents of emerging artists in their congressional districts. The winning piece for Missouri’s 7th District was selected by professional artists. This year’s judges were Dr. Rebecca Burrell from Drury University, Leslie Forrester, executive director of Springfield Regional Arts Council and Bonnie Herrmann, executive director of Branson Arts Council.
“Thank you to all the students who participated in this year’s competition,” Long said. “I continue to be impressed by the quality of work produced by students in our district. I am excited to see Katelyn’s beautiful drawing displayed in the corridors of the U.S. Capitol.”