Congressional Art Award winner selected at gallery showing.

The winning work of art, created by Yeon Whan Yoon from Hart High

A Hart High School senior’s depiction of diversity in America has earned him a spot in a Congressional gallery to represent of the 25th Congressional District.

The Congressional Art Award will be given to Yeon Whan Yoon for his mixed media presentation, entitled “For Which She Stands.” The selection was made Friday afternoon at The Picture Show in Valencia, where five judges viewed the entries and took several votes to come up with a winner.

KHTS owner Carl Goldman talks to the student artists before the announcement of the winners.

Yoon, who was not at the judging ceremony, will be honored at a special June ceremony in Washington D.C. and his artwork will hang in a special Congressional gallery until June 2009.

The contest was coordinated by KHTS and the office of Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, who was represented at the event by Chris Perry and Margie Clark.

The second place winner, Marissa Embola, a junior at Saugus High, was overjoyed that her artwork, “I’m An American” came close to being featured in Washington. Embola’s family, who accompanied her to the event, said that the effervescent young woman has been an artist for several years.

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She said that art is more recreational than serious for her now, since she is focusing on future college studies. She hopes to study pre-med or astrophysics.

In third place was a military-themed entry by Shontuwanette Osawaru, a junior at Golden Valley High School entitled “And the Flag Was Still There.”

Guests also enjoyed a buffet from Tandoori Grill. All artwork in the competition will be on display at The Picture Show (at the corner of Valencia Boulevard and Cinema Drive) until Friday, May 2.

Marissa Embola reacts when her artwork is given second place.

Chris Perry from Congressman Buck McKeon’s office helps Embola display her artwork.

Gene Ausili, owner of The Picture Show, with the third place entry