Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced that Chelsea Yang of Cherry Hill won the 2019 Congressional Art Competition for New Jersey’s First Congressional District.

Chelsea, a rising junior at Cherry Hill High School East, titled her winning acrylic painting “A Meaningful Visit,” and it depicts a daughter visiting the gravesite of her father, who served in the U.S. military. The painting will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year

“Chelsea successfully depicted an important reality – our service members and their families make tremendous sacrifices to uphold our American democracy,” said Congressman Norcross. “As the proud father and father-in-law of veterans and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I know that we, as a nation, owe a debt of gratitude. As such, I am proud to showcase this painting in the Capitol on behalf of South Jersey. "

“The idea for this painting occurred when I came across touching videos of soldiers going home to their children,” said Chelsea. “It made me think: What if the solider never made it back home? Would the child grow up never knowing who their dad really was? These questions compelled me to create this piece and portray the girl displaying her hard-earned trophies to her father.”

Chelsea and her mother joined Norcross in Washington, DC for the Congressional Art Reception on June 24, 2019.

All student artists who submitted artwork for the competition will be honored by Norcross with an official Congressional certificate.

Norcross added: "Each year I am in awe of the unique and impressive talent that we have here in South Jersey and this year is no different. I believe many of these students will continue creating masterpieces for years to come and we will even see some famous work coming out of South Jersey in the future."

Past Winners

  • In 2018, winner Joyce Fang of Voorhees submitted a painting titled, “Neighborhood.”.
  • In 2017, winner Hannah Jin of Cherry Hill Township submitted a painting titled, “The Tale of the Yellow Ribbon.”
  • In 2016, winner Angelina Le of Voorhees submitted a painting titled, “The Price of Freedom."

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Contact: Ally Kehoe, Communications Director
ally.kehoe@mail.house.gov