Of the 64 entries representing 26 high schools, Immaculate Heart High School senior Lauren Suh won first place in the 28th District Congressional Arts Competition.

U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff awarded Immaculate Heart High School senior Lauren Suh (third from the left) for her chalk pastel art piece. (photo courtesy of the 28th District Congressional Office)

U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced the winners at the 28th District Congressional Art Competition Forum and Exhibit in Van De Kamp Hall at Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge on Sunday to a crowd of more than 200 students, parents and teachers.

Suh wasn’t originally planning to submit her art for the competition. However, when her AP art teacher told her that another student’s submission was not going to be accepted since the other student didn’t live in the 28th Congressional District, Suh and her teacher rushed to submit her artwork in its place.

“It was really last minute. I didn’t hear about the deadline until the day before. I didn’t think I was going to win. I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll get third place — if I’m lucky’. I was really nervous. I kind of accepted the fact that I probably wouldn’t win,” Suh said.

Suh’s submission, a chalk pastel art piece titled “Gussie” featuring a rendering of a friend, was created as a school assignment last year. Suh chose her friend because of her curly hair. It took her approximately one week to complete.

“I really liked her hair, so I took a picture of her. Then I did the art piece, which is white on black, so it’s a negative drawing. It was just for fun,” Suh said.

“Gussie” will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year, along with the artwork from other winners around the nation.

In addition to Suh, judges awarded Christine J. Lee, from Clark Magnet High School, second place, and Emily Hogeland, from John Burroughs High School, third place. Avenia Ghovandia, from Glendale High School, won the “People’s Choice” award online contest. Approximately 2,000 of Schiff’s constituents voted online, with Ghovandia’s art piece getting the most votes.

“Each year, I get the opportunity to see some absolutely amazing artwork submitted by high school students from across our district,” Schiff said in a statement.  “All of the students involved deserve recognition for their hard work and exceptional talent, and I hope that they will all continue to enrich our community with their artwork.  I particularly want to congratulate Lauren, Christine, Emily and Avenia on being named the winners, and look forward to enjoying their artwork in the Capitol and my offices throughout the coming year.”

Suh will attend the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena in the fall, studying illustration.

“I’m thinking of doing some freelance work and may teach. I think that would be fun,” she said.

Judges for the art competition included well-known watercolor artist and actress Kellye Nakahara, who played “Nurse Kellye in the TV series “M*A*S*H”, David Warren, chair of the board of trustees of the Hollywood Arts Council, and artist Janet Workman.

The congressional art competition began in 1982. More than 650,000 high school students have participated nationwide.

To view art pieces submitted for the Congressional Art Competition, visit http://schiff.house.gov/media-center/photos/2015-congressional-art-competition.