March 22, 2005: Coram, NY - Congressman Tim Bishop and President Sister Elizabeth Hill of St. Joseph's College announced a $10,000 scholarship to the winner of the 1st Congressional District Art Contest. Recently, Bishop and the East End Arts Council invited High School art students throughout the 1st Congressional District to participate in the 24th Annual Congressional Art Competition. The winner of the competition will have his or her work displayed in a yearlong exhibit in the U.S. Capitol and receive three airline tickets from Southwest Airlines to travel to the opening reception.

"The Congressional Art Contest is a wonderful opportunity to identify and encourage our nation's talented young artists," Bishop said. "I truly appreciate President Sister Hill and the entire St. Joseph's faculty and staff for adding such great encouragement and incentive for students to exhibit their artistic abilities."

"St. Joseph's College is grateful for Congressman's Bishop's continued support of Long Island's educational interests and goals as demonstrated in his active participation in the Congressional Art Contest," said President Sister Elizabeth A. Hill, CSJ, JD. "The College is pleased to be able to contribute to this important event by offering a four-year scholarship to the eligible winner."

St. Joseph's College will provide a $2,500-per-year-scholarship for four years (totaling $10,000) to the winner of the Congressional Art Contest. The winner must meet the College's admissions criteria and follow standard admissions procedures prior to receiving the four-year scholarship. Bishop's office has sent an invitation to participate in the competition to all high schools in the congressional district. The contest is open to all sophomore, junior and senior high school students in the Town of Brookhaven, Town of Smithtown, and the five East End Towns of Riverhead, Southold, East Hampton, Southampton and Shelter Island.

The competition will give talented art students the opportunity to have their work shown in a professional exhibit April 11 through May 1 at the Middle Country Library in Selden that will be curated by the East End Arts Council. First, Second, Third places and Honorable Mentions will be selected by a panel of judges.

Students interested in entering work should contact their art teachers or principals. Please make sure that all work is wired and ready to hang. Art work must be submitted to the East End Arts Council office at 133 East Main Street in Riverhead on March 31, April 1 or April 2. The office is open from Monday-Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. The contact is Daphne Shuttleworth at 727-0900 or email her at gallery@eastendarts.org.

The winner will be announced during a reception on Sunday, May 1 at 2 pm at the Middle Country Library. All participating artists, their families, and teachers are invited to attend the reception, where Bishop will recognize each student and present him or her with a certificate before announcing the winner. All artwork will be returned to the artists after the reception, except for the winning artwork, which will be sent to Washington D.C. for the exhibit in the U.S. Capitol.

Since the Congressional Art Competition debuted in 1982, members of the U.S. House of Representatives have conducted nearly 5,000 art competitions involving hundreds of thousands of school students. Those interested in participating should contact Jane Finalborgo in Congressman Bishop's District office in Coram at (631) 696-6500 or in Southampton at 631-259-8450.