Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Middlesex, Monmouth) announced this year’s U.S. Service Academy nominees and the winners of the 2018 Sixth Congressional District High School Arts Competition at a Congressional Awards Ceremony held at Rutgers University.
The U.S. Service Academy nominees are:
- U.S. Naval Academy: Catherine Brown of Matawan Regional High School; Derek Gordon, Jr. of High Technology High School in Middletown; Riley Guerrera of Christian Brothers Academy in Middletown; and Alex Kern of Middletown High School North.
- U.S. Military Academy at West Point: Michael Flynn of Marine Academy for Science & Technology in Middletown; and Jack Hardzewicz of Middletown High School South.
- U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: Dominick Esposito of Brookdale Community College
Young artists from various schools in Middlesex and Monmouth counties participated in this year’s art competition, which is part of the nationwide program known as “An Artistic Discovery.” Local judges chose first, second and third place winners, and also awarded 15 honorable mentions. The first place winner, Imani Sylvain, will have her artwork displayed for the next year in the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
Honorable mentions: Julia Grivas of Matawan Regional High School; Michelle Lipnitsky of Matawan Regional High School; Veronica Thiel of Keyport High School; Mia Walker of Matawan Regional High School; and Yihan Wu of High Technology High School.