By Paige Nash
Claiborne Parish Sheriff Sam Dowies, Claiborne Parish School Superintendent William Kennedy, family friends and teachers traveled to the Louisiana Tech Academic Success Center at Bossier Parish Community College on Wednesday, May 3, in support of local artist Shaniyah Webb.
Mike Johnson, Congressman for the 4th District, recognized and presented the annual “Art Show and Awards Ceremony.” Webb placed third with her acrylic piece titled, “Louisiana Saturday Night.”
The winners of this competition have their work displayed in the halls of Congress. Johnson said, “Many times a day we pass down this long hallway and all along the walls are the winners of the art competition. It is such a great thing because it lightens the mood there and shows off the great talent we have in this country.”
This year the competition had 153 applicants from across the district.
Johnson awarded Webb with a “Congregational Art Competition Winner Certificate.”
“Mrs. Rhonda Porter is so faithful and very familiar to us because her students win this every year,” said Johnson. “She is a very dedicated art teacher in Claiborne Parish. You do amazing and are obviously inspiring these students because they do amazing work.
This year makes the seventh consecutive year that a Claiborne Parish student has received an award in this competition.
Also honored at the ceremony were first place winner, Kyle Lejeune from Vernon Parish, second place winner Angela Guy also from Vernon Parish, fourth place winner Macie Campbell from Evangeline Parish and fifth place winner Amaris Torres from Vernon Parish.
Attendees were able to mingle and view all of the great pieces that were submitted from the other students across the district. Mrs. Rhonda Porter had 13 other students who submitted art work that was displayed throughout the room including:
Demarcus Walker, Summerfield High School – “Zydeco”
Nevaeh Miller, Homer High School – “Louisiana Lady”
Jarei’ Yuana Adams, Homer High School – “Mardi Grad at Midnight”
Jaylin Franklin, Homer High School – “Jazz”
Layton Faust, Summerfield High School – “Crawfish Fleur-De-Lis”
Asiah Franklin, Homer High School – “The Beauty of Louisiana”
Aniyah Heard, Homer High School – “Bayou Golf”
Nia Holmes, Summerfield High School – “Cafe’ du Monte”
Jalarious Tate, Homer High School – “The Eyes of Louisiana”
Alexis Kennedy, Homer High School – “Louisiana Gold”
Braylin Brown, Summerfield High School – “Jazzy Street”
Anna Lumbreras, Homer High School – “Forgotten Barn”
Mailee Jee, Summerfield High School – “Crawling Painting”
