Banning Pay-to-Play Sports

I took notice of an interesting article in the Columbus Dispatch about a new committee being formed by Cliff Hite to look at the possibility of banning "pay-to-play" sports in schools.

Some districts have chosen to implement a fee for student participation in extra-curricular activities including sports and music. For some districts, this is a fine way to deal with exploding budgets and dwindling funds; but in other districts, pay-to-play fees are limiting participation of the less fortunate.

I look forward to hearing what Hite and company come up with as paying for all of these activities is surely going to come up. With the school funding formula fiasco being what it is already, this will surely be controversial.

I'm intrigued and unless something comes up that would cause me to change my mind, at this point I'm a supporter of the idea. It is certainly worth exploring.

OH-02: Indian Hill High School Student Wins Art Competition

Release:

An Indian Hill High School senior won this year’s art competition sponsored by Congresswoman Jean Schmidt. Natalie Thorsen of Sycamore Township in Hamilton County used china marker to create a portrait that will be exhibited in the U.S. Capitol for a year. Each of the 435 members of Congress is allowed to submit one work of art by a high school student for the annual exhibit.

Thorsen’s portrait of a friend, titled “Maddie,” was deemed the best of the entries in Ohio’s Second Congressional District, which includes all or parts of seven counties. The competition was judged by prominent local artists Lonna Kingsbury of Clermont County, Deborah Ridgley of Hamilton County, and John Ruthven of Brown County. “I appreciate the effort of all the students who entered this year’s competition, and I’m grateful that the three distinguished judges took the time to review the entries,” Congresswoman Schmidt said. “It’s amazing how many talented students are in Ohio’s Second Congressional District.” Congresswoman Schmidt congratulated Thorsen during a reception at the Union Township Civic Center in Clermont County, where all entries were displayed last week. Thorsen said she plans to attend the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) in the fall.

Congresswoman Schmidt Announces Art Competition

Release:

U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt has invited all high school students who live in Ohio’s Second Congressional District to enter an art competition. The winner’s creation will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol in Washington for a year.

Local entries in the 2012 Congressional Art Competition will be displayed 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, April 23, at the Union Township Civic Center, 4350 Aicholtz Road in Clermont County. The winner will be determined by expert judges selected by Congresswoman Schmidt.

“This annual art competition is a great opportunity for a student to show his or her creative side,” Congresswoman Schmidt said. “Entries can focus on almost any subject, ranging from patriotic themes to self-portraits to local landmarks.”

The competition is open only to high school students who live in the district, which includes parts of Hamilton, Warren, and Scioto counties and all of Clermont, Brown, Adams, and Pike counties. Entries are permitted from students who live in the district but attend a school elsewhere. If students are unsure whether they live in the district, they can visit www.house.gov and enter their ZIP plus 4 code (such as 45236-2929) in the upper right corner to find out.

The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. April 18. Each entry must be no larger than 28-by-28 inches to the outside dimensions of the frame. The artwork cannot be more than 4 inches in depth or weigh more than 15 pounds – including the frame.

Categories: Painting (oil, acrylic, or watercolor); drawing (pastel, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, marker); collage (must be two dimensional); print (lithograph, silkscreen, block print); mixed media (no more than two mediums, such as pencil and ink); computer-generated art; photography.

Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution. Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission, which prohibits exhibits depicting subjects that are gruesome, sensationalistic, or focus on contemporary political controversy.

Entries must be accompanied by a release form signed by the student and art teacher. Forms and guidelines have been mailed to high school art teachers. Students who are home schooled or unable to obtain copies of forms and guidelines from a teacher at their school should call (513) 791-0381 or email sara.dreier@mail.house.gov.

I *LOVE* these art competitions...these are some of my favorite press releases of every year.

Boehner Congratulates 2011 8th District Art Competition Winners

Release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today announced Rachel Leathers, a senior at Miami Valley Career Technology Center, as the grand prize winner of the 2011 8th District art competition.

“Our judges had a very difficult decision to make with the number of gifted high school artists participating in this year’s competition,” said Boehner. “Congratulations to Rachel and all of the contestants for their hard work and amazing talents.”

Rachel’s white color pencil and graphite piece was selected for top honors after judges reviewed 156 entries submitted by 116 students from 22 area high schools. Her piece will hang in the U.S. Capitol for a year along with other winners from around the country.

In addition, Benjamin Armour, a sophomore at Lakota East High School, was selected as the first place winner for his photograph, “Ash Cave.” His piece will hang in the Office of The Speaker.

Second- and third-place and several honorable mention pieces will hang in Boehner’s West Chester and Troy offices where they may be viewed by the public.

Other winners include:

* 2nd Place – Other Media: Jacquelyn Wagner, a junior at Miami Valley Career Technology Center, for her graphite piece, “Harmony.”

* 2nd Place – Photography: Nancy Chen, a senior at Franklin Monroe High School, for her abstract photo, “Iron Stone Whisper.”

* 3rd Place – Other Media: Thu Do, a junior at Lakota West High School, for his self portrait, “Ninja”

* 3rd Place – Photography: Kyla Roberts, a junior at Options Academy of the Arts, for her digital photo, “Me and My Rainbow Socks – Self”

* Honorable Mention: Taylor Bellomy, Miami Valley Career Technology Center; Ryan Birr, Carroll High School; Gayle Cobb, Middletown Christian School; Elizabeth Fair, Troy High School; Aisha Hull, Troy High School; Ema Koch, Lakota West High School; Bridget Mescher, Miami Valley Career Technology Center; Joshua Mossman, Fairfield High School; Madison Perry, Twin Valley South High School; Megan Peters, Franklin Monroe High School; Michelle Spencer, Troy High School; Carissa Wilson, Dayton Christian School.

The Congressional Art Competition, "An Artistic Discovery," aims to showcase the artistic talents of 8th District high school students. The competition was open to students in grades nine through 12, who are residents of the 8th Congressional District.

All artwork will remain on display at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center in Tory, Ohio, until Tuesday, April 26.

Congressman Bob Gibbs Announces 2011 Congressional Art Competition

Release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bob Gibbs is pleased to announce the launch of the 2011 Congressional Art Competition – An Artistic Discovery.  The Congressman invites all high school students in grades 9-12, who reside or attend school in Ohio’s 18^th district, to submit entries. 

 

Every spring the US House of Representatives sponsors an art competition for high school students. Submitted artwork will be evaluated by a panel of local judges.  The winning artwork will be displayed for a year in the US Capitol along with winners from other Congressional districts.  Runner-ups will have their art hung in the D.C. and district offices of Congressman Gibbs.

 

“This art competition is an excellent chance for students in the 18^th district the opportunity to display their talents in the nation’s Capitol,” said Congressman Gibbs.  “I look forward to receiving and reviewing many pieces of art from our district’s talented young artists.”

 

Artwork must be entirely original.  Accepted media for artwork include paintings, drawings, collage, prints, mixed media, computer generated art and photography.  More information can be found here: http://www.house.gov/house/ArtGuidelines.shtml.

The Best Damn Band In The Land to March at Inaugural

I absolutely LOVE this story by Jessica Wehrman in the Dayton Daily News about how Rep. Pat Tiberi advocated for including the Ohio State University Marching Band in the inaugural festivities. Even better was the reaction from Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner -- upon learning that TBDBITL was selected...

He suggested that the delegation offer up U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Columbus to dot the "i" in Script Ohio as the band marched down Pennsylvania Avenue.

As it turns out, Tiberi marched with the band and has been a vocal supporter of the arts in Congress.

My appreciation for Rep. Tiberi has just gone up a few notches...