MENG HONORS QUEENS ART CONTEST WINNER IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she honored Francis Lewis High School student Cher Shu Yi Li in Washington, D.C. for winning the Congresswoman's "Sixth Congressional District Art Contest."

The annual competition, which consists of entries from high school and middle school students in Queens, is part of "An Artistic Discovery," the national art contest held by the House of Representatives that showcases the artwork of students in congressional districts all across the nation.

Li's winning piece - along with the winning artwork from other congressional districts throughout the United States - will now be displayed for one year within the halls of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Li traveled to Capitol Hill late last week to attend the contest's ceremonies that recognized her exceptional artistic abilities as well as the artistic talents of other congressional art contest winners. She also got to see her artwork officially hung in the Capitol.

Li, who is 17 years old, resides in Auburndale. She will begin her senior year at her high school in Fresh Meadows in September. She won first place in Meng's contest for her acrylic artwork entitled "Night Meal in Flushing" that depicts people inside a Chinese restaurant in New York City. According to Li, the piece shows how culture exists naturally in routine life.

This year, there were a total of 58 submissions entered into Meng's contest.

"I was thrilled to welcome Cher Shu Yi Li to the nation's capital, and honor her for winning this very competitive competition," said Congresswoman Meng. "I'm proud to recognize her outstanding talent and I congratulate her for winning this year's contest. Seeing her artwork displayed on Capitol Hill for a whole year will be very exciting for our borough and I look forward to thousands of people walking through the Capitol seeing it as well. We had so many creative and inspiring submissions for this year's competition and I thank all the local students who entered. The contest serves as a celebration of young artists and a platform for area students to highlight their artistic skills. I am proud to have once again hosted it here in Queens."

"I'm honored to win this competition and have my artwork recognized in this amazing way," said Cher Shu Yi Li. "Thank you to Rep. Meng for this opportunity and thank you to my family, friends and art teacher for the support they've given me, especially as I decided to enter the contest. Going to Washington for the ceremonies and seeing my winning painting displayed was a tremendous experience and I am excited that it will continue to hang in the United States Capitol."

Li was announced as the winner during a recent reception that Meng sponsored for students who submitted artwork. All of the entries were displayed for the event which took place in May at the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Several runners-up were announced as well. The reception also included the students' families, art teachers, principals and school administrators.

The runners-up, who received special Certificates of Congressional Recognition, included:

• Second Place

Seungran (Ellie) Lim, a student from St. Francis Prepatory High school in Fresh Meadows

• Third Place

Jhustin Ramirez-Vasquez, a student from Hillside Arts and Letters Academy in Jamaica

The winner and runners-up were selected by panel of local artists and art educators consisting of:

• Faustino Quintanilla, Executive Director of the Queensborough Community College Art Gallery
• Maria Cristina Pio, Co-Director of the Godwin-Ternbach Museum at Queens College
• Julia del Palacio, Executive Director of Queens Theatre located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park
• Joseph Adolphe, Art Professor at St. John's University

The Artistic Discovery competition was launched in 1982 for Members of Congress to showcase the artistic work of students from around the nation. Since it began, hundreds of thousands of students from throughout the United States have participated in the contest.