Megan Hodge Congressional Art Competition Winner

(MEGAN HODGE AND CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHIMKUS)

St. Anthony High School student Megan Hodge was recognized Wednesday for winning the Congressional Art Competition for the 15th District.

Congressman John Shimkus was at the high school for a formal presentation of the award and to receive Megan's work of art, a watercolor painting of a Monarch butterfly.

Megan is a sophomore, and is the daughter of Kelly and Devvie Hodge of Effingham. She is studying under the instruction of John Gabb. She said she saw a photo of the butterfly and decided that was the one she wanted to paint.

Megan and her parents will fly to Washington, DC in June for a decision as to what work will be the overall winner among entries from the 435 Congressional districts in the nation. Her painting will hang for the next year along with the other winning entries in Cannon Tunnel, which connects the Cannon House Office Building with the US Capitol.