ROCHELLE — On May 13 the United States Congressional Office held a showcase of entries to announce the winners for the 2019 IL-16 Congressional Art Award. Alva Valle from Rochelle Township High School was named Honorable Mention for her piece entitled “A Reminder.”  
Her two-drawing piece, one color pencil and one graphite, earned her the award. The composition conveys the idea of facing herself and being reminded of who she was.
Valle’s new work, “A Reminder,” will hang in the Congressman’s Watseka office. This honor is the latest of many bestowed upon Alva. At Rochelle Township High School Honors Night on May 7, it was announced that she will continue on her artistic journey next year at Northern Illinois University, pursuing an art degree for which she received a performance scholarship.  
“I want to thank those who helped me get to this next step, I would especially like to thank Mr. Donovan and Mrs. Mock for really pushing me into the arts,” Valle said. “It’s crazy how four years can change your entire outlook on your future.”

Although Valle was the only winner at the Congressional Art Competition, six other RTHS art seniors had their work on display: Damesis Carrillo- Valdez, Judy Fulgencio, Sylvester Astudillo, Graciela Perez, Camryn Turner and Makenna Ferrari.  
“This year our art students have really outdone themselves, especially our seniors,” Beth Mock, RTHS art teacher and department chair said. “They have worked hard to improve their skills, explore new ideas, and challenge the norm- setting the bar high for years to come.”  
The bar Mock is referring to is the other honors the seniors in her AP Studio Art class have brought home this year.
Damesis Carrillo-Valdez won Best of Show for “The Arrival” at the Kishwaukee College Art Competition, Valle won Best of Show at the NIU Art Invitational, and collectively the group won fourth place at the NIB-12 Conference art competition.
“We in the RTHS art department are very proud of all our senior art students’ success and attribute that success to their hard work and a challenging AP Studio Art curriculum. We are excited to see what they create next and what the future holds for each of them,” Mock said.
Illinois 16th District Rep. Adam Kinzinger hosted a showcase Monday night in Ottawa to display all the outstanding district entries, 52 in total.  Congressman Kinzinger was impressed by all the works, commenting that “his sister got all the artistic talent in the family (she is a college art professor), and that he had trouble with stick figures.”  
Being a two-time honorable mention winner, Congressman Kinzinger recognized Valle for her talent and content.  
Her first winning piece, “Back to My Roots,” was also self-portrait that hung in the Congressman’s Rockford office for a year.