Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08) shook the hand of 2010 Congressional High School Art Competition winner, Colton Running, at “An Artistic Discovery” award ceremony this past week in Bellevue.

The Tahoma High School senior accepted the award in front of a room filled with students, teachers, parents and friends. The award ceremony was held at the Bellevue Arts Museum, where 35 student entries were on display in the Community Education Gallery next to the museum’s gift shop.

The arts competition was designed to recognize and encourage creative talent among high school students. Entries included photographs, drawings, paintings, and mixed media.

Colton won with his digital photograph titled “Burning,” depicting a dandelion engulfed in flame. His winning photograph will be displayed at the Cannon Tunnel in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

Colton’s initial interest in photography was born about a year ago when he borrowed his father’s camera. He has since gone on to secure an internship with Tiger Mountain Photo and plans to pursue a career in photography. His focus is on urban and grunge-inspired digital images, which he shoots with a Canon 50D.

“I like photography because it allows you to look at everything in a different light and reveal new angles and lines,” he said. “It’s a way of capturing a moment and making it last forever.”

Two runner-up winners were also announced during the reception. Kendra Hobbs of Tahoma Senior High School earned an honorable mention for her oil painting titled a “Portrait of a Boy” and Stephanie Anderson of Newport High School for her mixed-media piece called “Internment,” a collage using wire, photographs, fake fabric flowers, paper, gold leaves and paint to depict the story of her grandparents time in internment camps.

“Looking at these walls, the future is bright,” said Mark Crawford, Executive Director for BAM.

All 35 art pieces will remain on public display at BAM until June 6.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425-453-4602.