House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy toasts Kern County students and teachers for excellence

Rep. Kevin McCarthy gives us his weekly report from Capitol Hill. In his words:

 'I recently hosted an event to recognize Kern County students and teachers from the 23rd Congressional District who display excellence in and out of the classroom.

I was glad to acknowledge them for setting the bar high. The students have demonstrated a passion for learning, both in their classes and extracurricular activities. Their nominated teachers are also paving the way for local educators in the area.

Last week I also announced the winners of the 38th Annual “An Artistic Discovery” Congressional Art Competition for high school students in our congressional district. Winners and participants were acknowledged during a reception at the Metro Galleries in Bakersfield.

The annual art competition is an exciting way to celebrate emerging artists and recognize creativity in our community. This year's entries were fantastic, and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the stories behind the pieces - every participant displayed extraordinary work. A special congratulations to the winner, Octavian, whose photograph will be showcased at the U.S. Capitol where it will undoubtedly be one of the best. He has made our community very proud! Under the guidance of his art teacher, Claire Miller, Octavian created his photography piece, “Lost in Grey.”

Octavian has been invited to attend the exhibit opening of “An Artistic Discovery” in Washington, D.C., on Monday, June 24, 2019. His artwork will be displayed in the corridor leading to the U.S. Capitol for one year.  As the overall winner, he will also receive two round-trip tickets to the exhibit opening, as well as a cash award which was presented at the district reception.

Students who placed first, second, third or received honorable mention in all other medium, photography, and computer art categories, also received awards.

Our office was highly impressed by the outpouring of interest from the district - we received 134 entries from 16 schools in the 23rd Congressional District this year, which includes parts of Kern, Tulare, and Los Angeles Counties. Congratulations to all!