Five students from Hill School have recently placed in the Congressional Art Competition, an annual event sponsored by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The competition is open to high school students across the United States and aims to encourage and recognize artistic talent in young people.  

This year, five students have distinguished themselves from their peers across various artistic genres such as painting, drawing, collage, photography, and computer-generated art. Cici Fang ‘24, Adelyn Sim ’24, Jillian Richards ’23, Joseph Terreri ’26 and Caroline Brandt ’26 demonstrated exceptional concepts and outstanding qualities in their entries 

Brandt, one of the winners in the category of photography, demonstrated individual contemplativeness. She expressed the reason behind the work, wanting “to capture a raw and realistic picture that could represent what street photography meant to me.”  

Not only did this work represent her excellence in understanding the photograph, but it also expressed her ideas of personal thoughts and feelings. 

Another winner claiming third place in the category of painting, Sim painted an image of herself struggling to break a glass box, symbolizing the restriction of freedom. Just looking at the piece is enough to leave an unforgettable visual impact and immediate relation to real life. While this is a self-reflection of her achieving higher levels of creativity in art, it also aims to convey a broader message of being true to oneself.  

“I would like the readers to acknowledge how I try to highlight the importance of individuality and authenticity in a world that often imposes judgments and limitations,” Sim said.  

This insightful work earned her a chance to achieve her purpose by hanging the work in the Pottstown Office. 

Fang, the first-place winner, will have her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, alongside the artwork of other winners from across the country. Her work portrayed a 3D folding fan that presented different images from two angles. Fang wished to use this success to raise awareness of environmental issues for audiences around the globe.  

“The double sides represent the controversial ethical issue: the survival of whales or human beings,” Fang said.  

Winning the Congressional Art Competition is a significant accomplishment for these students, and it is a testament to their artistic talent and hard work. The Hill School community is proud of the five winners and congratulates them on their impressive achievement. Their work represents the creativity, skill, and dedication the Hill School strives to instill in its students. The lessons they learned through this experience will undoubtedly inspire and influence more people in the future.