Ridge HS Student Named Runner-Up In 2025 Congressional Art Competition

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Ridge High School student Laurie Wu was named as a runner-up in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District, announced Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07).

The two runners-ups recognized included Wu for "Birth," and Deeksha Chaganur of Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School for "Pines and Petals."

Their pieces will be exhibited in Congressman Kean’s offices in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. on a rotating basis throughout the year. All winners were selected by a panel of professional judges based on artistic skill, design, visual appeal, and originality.

Bridgewater-Raritan High School senior Parinita Chandrashekar won first place for her drawing, "Cutting Through Reality." Her artwork will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, and she will be invited to Washington, D.C. for a national recognition ceremony in June.

Kean announced the winners during a Congressional Art Competition Recognition Event held in Flemington on Sunday. All participating student artists and their families were invited to attend. Each student was recognized for their creativity and dedication.

"Our district is home to many exceptionally talented young artists, and the incredible submissions we received this year were truly impressive," said Kean, Jr. "Congratulations to Parinita, whose remarkable artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol, representing the creativity and spirit of our district. I also want to thank all 51 students who participated, along with their art teachers, judges, and families. Their dedication and support are what made this year’s competition such a success."

In addition, seven students received Honorable Mentions at the event. Honorable Mention recipients included Annalena Bohach of Somerville High School, Amelia Ing of Kent Place School, Serena Lin of the Pingry School, Iris Su of Ridge High School, Jianing Xu of Ridge High School, Angela Zhou of Bridgewater-Raritan High School, and Allan Zhu of Watchung Hills Regional.

Among the judges who participated in this year’s competition was Catherine Bethon, who is a high school art educator specializing in Art History and Mixed Media. She serves as the Warren County Chair for the Art Educators of New Jersey (AENJ) and organizes the annual Warren County Youth Art Month (YAM) exhibition at Centenary University, highlighting student creativity from grades K-12 across the region.

A practicing artist, Catherine creates portraits for children facing adversity around the world through projects like the Memory Project. She also partners with national tour groups to provide students with immersive cultural and artistic experiences beyond the classroom.

"It is an incredible honor to judge talented student artists of Congressman Tom Kean, Jr.'s district," said Catherine Bethon. "Their creativity continues to raise the bar in our field. I wish all the students the very best in their artistic journeys and encourage them to keep creating and sharing their work with the world."

View all the 2025 artwork submissions from NJ-07 HERE.

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