WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) recently announced the beginning of the 2012 Congressional Art Competition. The contest is open to all students in grades nine through 12 who either reside or attend high school in New York’s 22nd Congressional District. For a second year in a row, the competition is going online. The first-place winner will have his or her artwork publicly displayed on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC for one year. To participate, visit hinchey.house.gov/art.

On April 9, Hinchey’s Facebook page will begin hosting the artwork of students participating in the Congressional Art Competition. Facebook fans can help choose a finalist for the competition by giving the thumbs up to artwork they like. A Facebook finalist will be chosen on Monday, April 23 at noon. To receive continual updates on the competition, Facebook users can like Congressman Hinchey’s page by visiting www.face book.com/mauricehinchey.