Beaumont Teen Wins 1st Prize & Trip to DC in Regional Art Contest

Marriam Jawaid, 16, an eleventh-grader at Beaumont High School has been awarded first place in the 2019 Congressional Art Competition for California's 36th Congressional District.

The prize was presented to Ms. Jawaid by U.S. Congressman, Raul Ruiz (D), who represents the 36th District, on April 16 at the Sunnylands Center and Gardens in Rancho Mirage.

Her digital artwork, entitled "Confidence Beyond Doubt," features a self-portrait of the artist showing self-assuredness and a burst of creativity while she confronts various assaults of doubt.

The competition represented winning submissions from dozens of high schools across the district with the finalists selected by professional artist judges.

As the first place winner, Marriam and a guest will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, DC to attend the national reception for all district winners at the U.S. Capitol building where all of their art pieces will be prominently displayed for one year in a well-traveled hallway that legislators and thousands of visitors pass by daily.

The second place artwork will be displayed in Congressman Ruiz's Washington office, third place will be displayed in his Palm Desert district office, and honorable mention will be displayed in his Hemet office.

Marriam Jawaid is an active member of Beaumont Library District's Teen Advisory Board and a library volunteer. She will be donating a print of her winning artwork to the Library which will put it on public display soon.

Beaumont Library, a California Special District independent of both city and county government, provides library services to Beaumont and Cherry Valley and is located at 125 E. Eighth Street in Beaumont. Visit bld.lib.ca.us for more information.