PHOENIX, Ariz. - A senior student at Brophy College Preparatory has been selected as the winner of the Fourth Congressional District's Art Competition and will be recognized in a brief ceremony Monday in Phoenix, announced U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz. Imran Shafi won the competition with his oil on canvas painting entitled "The Foretelling." His art teacher is Deborah Cronin.

Second place went to Fatma Thoayleb, a sophomore at Apollo High School. Her charcoal drawing was entitled "Found in Translation." Third place was awarded to Abner Rodriguez, a senior atSummit High School. His acrylic painting was entitled "Eso Es Todo Aqui."

Ten students were noted as honorable mentions: Monique Rodriguez, Cassie Hall, Maria Paz, Owen Rinehart, and Martin Barron, all from Trevor Browne High School; Cody Jayne Albin fromApollo; Sonia Gutierrez from South Pointe High School; and Al-Malik Fard Allah, Thomas Briones, and Marlen Peña from Metro Tech High School.

The students will be recognized by Congressman Pastor in a brief ceremony Monday, March 20, at 6 p.m. in the Gallery Cafe at the Art Institute of Phoenix, 2233 W. Dunlap Ave., Phoenix. The Art Institute hosted the art competition and will have the winning pieces and all 77 entries on display.

As the first place winner of the Fourth Congressional District's Art Competition, Imran's art work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year and he will be flown with parents or guardians courtesy of Southwest Airlines to Washington to be recognized at the June 28 "An Artistic Discovery" ceremony on Capitol Hill. In addition to the flights donated by Southwest Airlines, Imran will receive $400 from Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc., to help cover expenses in Washington.

The Art Institute of Phoenix will donate a $30,000 tuition scholarship to Imran for placing first. Fatma, as the second place winner, will receive a $15,000 scholarship, and Abner will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

"This was a tough competition because the level of artistic talent in our district is very impressive and we had more than 70 entries this year," Pastor said. "Imran's piece showcases the tremendous artistic talent of Arizona's youth and I am extremely proud to see it heading to the Capitol for display."

This is the 14th year Pastor has hosted the art competition for students residing or attending a high school in his district. A winning entry in each congressional district is sent to Washington to be exhibited in a corridor leading to the U.S. Capitol, where thousands of visitors will view it along with winning entries from throughout the country. The annual competition, launched in 1982, is sponsored by the Congressional Arts Caucus and conducted by members of Congress in their respective districts.