BGA Student Winner of National Art Competition
Posted on 12/06/2016
Article by Sydney Samuelson '20
My experience at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. was great during this past weekend.  I was able to tour the Basilica and see the other winners' artwork.  I was also able to attend mass and a luncheon afterwards.  Although I was not the grand prize winner, it was an honor to be one of the 24 winners of MCA 2015-2016 Christmas Artwork Contest.

Since the 1st grade, I have had a deep love for art.  I have always been the kind of person who likes to try new techniques such as charcoal all the way to watercolors all thanks to my art teacher, Ms. Lonie Yuschik. She has always inspired me to do my best.  In my 1st grade year, I'd won a contest called "Respect for life," which featured my artwork in a calendar.  In my layer later years, I had my artwork displayed in Middlesex County College and all across my town.

Several years before, I'd enter the Pontifical Mission Society's Christmas card contest hoping to win.  After years of no luck, my younger brother Shane Samuelson had won in 2013-2014. After that, I knew I could do it and it motivated me to create a piece of artwork that showed my best artistic talents. In 8th grade year at St. Joseph School in Carteret, Nj, I'd finally won. I was in awe!

When asked to say what inspired me to create my artwork, I would have to say my love for Mary and the journey she went through to have Jesus.