Congressman honors Penn Manor HS artist

U.S. Rep. Joseph Pitts recently honored a Penn Manor High School senior by recognizing her artistic accomplishments in a citation read into the official Congressional Record.

It’s the latest honor for Alessandra Levato, who last year earned a $10,000 scholarship for her winning painting in a nationwide art competition.

Pitts, an artist himself, met with Ali this month in his Lancaster office, where he presented her with a copy of the congressional citation after looking over her art portfolio.

Ali recently was chosen to create two 12-foot paintings for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association’s Mechanicsburg headquarters. The abstract paintings incorporate words from the PSBA’s core values.

Last year, she won the 2013-14 Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. Her oil painting, “To Be An American,” placed first among the more than 4,000 entries submitted in the nationwide contest, sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In addition, she has received numerous art awards while at Penn Manor, including several Scholastic Art and Lancaster County Young Artist awards. After graduation, Ali plans to attend either the Pratt Institute or Rhode Island School of Art and Design.

Congrats, Ali, and best wishes on your future endeavors!