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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes Interpretive Center in White Hall was the site of the Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell’s Alabama 7^th Congressional District Congressional Art Competition reception and awards ceremony Saturday, April 29.

While the winner was Eva Hutto of University Church Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa, three Southside High School, Selma and six John T. Morgan Academy, Selma, students participated in the event.

Awards were presented for first, second and third place, as well as honorable mention.

First Place went to Eva Hutto of University Church Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa, taught by art teacher Ruth O’Connor; second went to Ja’Corey Robinson, third went Tionne Monceief, and honorable mention went to Julissa Chavez, all of Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery, taught by art teacher Ennis T. Miles.

Participants from Southside were Leshia Blevins, Chinita Irby and Keundrick Peterson, taught by art teacher Lydia Ward.

And participants from John T. Morgan Academy were Elizabeth Barton, Savannah Hope, George Jones, Caleb Pitts, Emily Sherrer and Terrence Wilson, taught by art teacher Cam Walker-Guarino.

Hutto’s work, “Try to See What I See,” will be hung in the halls of Congress for an entire year and will attend a reception.

Hutto also won a flight for herself and a parent complements of Southwest Airlines and a $3,000 per year (total of $12,000) scholarship to Savannah College of Arts & Design.

Melinda C. Williams, congressional manager for Sewell’s Montgomery Office said Sewell wanted to attend Saturday, but was still in Washington, D.C. However, Williams said, “She is very, very passionate about the arts.”

Williams pointed out that Sewell is from Selma and that Sewell’s mother’s family is from Lowndes County. She said Sewell is also passionate about the Selma to Montgomery Historic Trail.

Williams said of the Congressional Art Competition, “Art does not have to be framed to win. Art does not have to be matted to win. All we want is art.” She encouraged arts students and their friends to participate in future competitions.

Special thanks went to the National Park Service, Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, the Alabama Art Alliance, Abrakadoodle Art in Montgomery, Southwest Airlines and Savannah College of Arts & Design.

There were 76 pieces of art entered in the competition by 64 students. Judges included Michelle Browder, founder and director of I Am More Than in Montgomery, Sandy Greene former president of the Selma Art Guilt and executive director of Arts Revive and Laura Grossman of the Selma Art Guild.