By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

CONGRESSWOMAN Madeleine Z. Bordallo will co-chair the congressional art competition this year.
Bordallo is the first Guam delegate to co-chair the annual national exhibit. She and her predecessors have been enthusiastic supporters of the local competition, the winner of which receives the opportunity to attend the banquet honoring nationwide contest winners and the opening of the exhibit in the nation’s capitol.
Last year’s Guam contest winner was Jeffery Ejan of John F. Kennedy High School. His painting represented Guam in the 2006 display.
According to the congresswoman’s office, a call for entries for this year’s contest has already been sent to all Guam public and private high schools.
“I well up with pride when I show off Guam’s winning artwork to my friends and colleagues in Congress,” Bordallo said.
The annual competition was established in 1982 by former Congressman and U.S. Senator James M. Jeffords of Vermont, who retired last year, and former Congressman Frederick W. Richmond of New York.
The competition aims to support and encourage the visual arts, as well as to showcase the talents of the nation’s young people. The competition is open only to high school students.
The co-chair of this year’s competition is Congressman Luis G. Fortuno of Puerto Rico.
“It is my honor to co-chair this prestigious and time-honored event with my colleague, Congressman Fortuno, who has always been a true supporter of the arts,” Bordallo said.
Every year, the congressional art competition showcases the creative talents of some of the nation’s most gifted young artists.
As part of the annual competition, all 440 members of Congress sponsor contests within their respective districts.
Winners get a trip to Washington, D.C. and their winning artworks are displayed for one year.