2 Bridgewater-Raritan HS Students Recognized In 2026 Congressional Art Competition

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Two Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School(BRHS) students were honored as part of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District.

First place went to Kaylie Gao of Warren for her acrylic painting, Allegiance. It will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. This year’s theme was "Celebrating America’s 250 Years."

Two runners-up were also recognized. Vivien Xu of Westfield was honored for her acrylic painting, Our Worker, and Mia Li of Warren was recognized for her pen and color pencil artwork, American Spirit.

Several other students received honorable mentions, including BRHS students Thanushri Krishnakumar of Bridgewater for United We Soar - A 250 Year Journey and Sophia Liu of Branchburg for Fleeting Youth.

"Each year, the Congressional Art Competition highlights the next generation of artists," said Congressman Tom Kean Jr. "Our district’s winners brought the spirit of our nation’s 250th anniversary to life through their artwork, and I am proud to help showcase their talent on a national stage. I look forward to seeing Kaylie’s painting exhibited in the Capitol in the coming months and to displaying Vivien's and Mia’s work in my congressional offices."

Winners were selected by a panel of professional judges based on artistic skill, design, visual appeal, and originality. The judges were Colleen Furnari and Catherine Benton.

Furnari teaches art at the Midland School in Branchburg and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Benton is a high school art educator specializing in Art History and Mixed Media and is serving for a second year as a judge in the competition.

The annual competition recognizes student artists from across the district, with the first-place entry moving on to a yearlong display in the Capitol and a Washington ceremony in June.

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