Rep. Zeldin Announces NY-1 Winner of the 2020 Congressional Art Competition

PATCHOGUE, NY - On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) announced the winners of his sixth annual Congressional Art Competition for local high school students. In light of the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus, this year’s art competition was entirely online. 

The House of Representatives hosts a nationwide high school art competition every spring to raise awareness of the importance of art programs in our schools, and to recognize and celebrate the creativity and diversity of students. 

This year’s first place winner is Victoria Havens of Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School. Victoria’s artwork will be displayed in the United States Capitol for one year and she will receive a $3,000 scholarship from the Savannah College of Art and Design and Tennessee Wesleyan College should she choose to pursue an art career at one of these institutions.

Second place winner Gillian Zarate of Longwood High School and third place winner Caroline Pennacchio of Smithtown Christian School will have their artwork displayed in Congressman Zeldin’s Patchogue office. 

The eleven finalists are as follows: 

First Place - Victoria Havens, Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School 

Second Place - Gillian Zarate, Longwood High School 

Third Place - Caroline Pennacchio, Smithtown Christian School 

Elizabeth Button, Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School 

Grace Commisso, Patchogue-Medford High School

Kathleen Connelly, Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School 

Grace Hayes, Westhampton Beach High School

Cynthia Lin, Southampton High School

Gavin Palladino, Smithtown Christian School

Cassidy Photos, Ward Melville High School

Emma Rocchetta, Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School 

Cheyenne Syrek, Smithtown Christian School

Congressman Zeldin said, “Congratulations to Victoria Havens, the first place winner of the 2020 Congressional Art Competition for the First Congressional District. In light of coronavirus, this year’s art competition was a little different, but the quality and talent of young artists from across our district remained unparalleled, which made this year’s competition especially challenging. It’s an honor to be able to recognize their talent, creativity and hard work, and I look forward to seeing what each and every one of them does next.”