ROCHELLE — On May 14 the United States Congressional office announced the winner of the IL-16 Congressional Art Award.
This year’s winner is Rochelle Township High School’s Mario Rocha who entered a piece entitled “Promise Me.” This piece is a realistic portrait drawn completely in ball-point pen.
When Rocha met with Illinois’ 16th District Rep. Adam Kinzinger to receive the award, Congressman Kinzinger was impressed with his skill; asking him to explain the meaning behind the work. Rocha told him the drawing contains layers of personal and symbolic meaning, but his primary goal was to capture his friend’s personality.

“And capture he did indeed.” RTHS Art Department Chair Beth Mock said. “Mario is one the best portrait artists we have ever had at RTHS. He has worked extremely hard to improve his skills and content which have paid off for him in a big way. I am very proud of all of his accomplishments.”
Rocha’s work, along with other 2018 Congressional Art winners, will hang in the tunnel between the US Capitol and Congress for a full year. Along with this honor, Rocha has won a trip for two to Washington, D.C., so he can actually see his work on display this summer.
This honor is the last of many bestowed upon Mario of late. At RTHS Honors Night May 7, it was announced that he will continue on his artistic journey next year at Northern Illinois University, pursuing a Fine Arts degree for which he received a performance scholarship.
“I’m grateful for the people that have helped me and the resources I have been given here at RTHS,” Rocha said.
Besides winning the Congressional Art Award for only the second time in RTHS history, fellow art student Alva Valle earned the Honorable Mention Congressional Award for her work, “Navajo.” She explained to Congressman Kinzinger she created the self-portrait wearing a jingle dress to bring attention to her Native American heritage because it is, “often forgotten and overlooked in modern society.”