Myers Park, Country Day, Providence Day win local WorldQuest competition

Three Charlotte schools will advance to a national Academic WorldQuest trivia competition in April.

In Charlotte's fourth annual Academic WorldQuest contest Wednesday, Myers Park High came in first, Charlotte Country Day second, and Providence Day in third.

The international trivia competition, hosted by the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, emphasizes the importance of international events, commerce and culture. Questions ranged from current events to history to international faces in the news.

The teams will travel to Washington, D.C., to compete (30 other councils in the country participate) on April 26.

Twenty other high schools participated Wednesday:

Cannon School
Cato Middle College High
Charlotte Catholic High
Charlotte Christian
Charlotte Latin
CMS - Exchange Students Team
Crossroads Charter Senior High
Davidson Day
East Gaston High
East Mecklenburg High
Highland School of Technology
Independence High
Military and Global Leadership Academy
North Mecklenburg High
Providence High
Rocky River High
Sun Valley High
Union County Early College High
Vance High
Weddington High

Charlotte Christian senior wins 2013 Congressional Art Competition

Beth Richter, a senior at Charlotte Christian, won the 2013 Congressional Art Competition for her painting called "Medal of Honor."

Medal of Honor, by Beth Richter

The Art Institute of Charlotte and Congressman Robert Pittenger invited high school students from the 9th Congressional District to compete.

The 9th District includes parts of south Charlotte, Matthews, Mint Hill, Weddington, Pineville, Huntersville, Cornelius and Mooresville.

The guest expert judge, Mike Watson, said Beth balanced the tones of the black and white painting well. Watson is an instructor at the Art Institute of Charlotte and curator of the Guinan Gallery.

"The piece is nicely laid out -- much better thought-out than the average student," he wrote. "Speaks to the moment. Would be less effective if in color."

As first-place winner, Beth will get to hang her work in the U.S. Capitol building, receive a scholarship from Savannah College of Art & Design and fly to Washington, D.C., to attend a national reception and see her artwork displayed.

The second place winner was by Sabrina Collias, a sophomore at Myers Park.

The Old Days, by Sabrina Collias

Watson also praised her painting, called "The Old Days," saying it reminded him of a Norman Rockwell painting.

"The piece feels light, effortless and delicate. Nice use of a light hand," he wrote.

Sabrina will receive a scholarship to the Summer Studio art program at the Art Institute of Charlotte, which features five days of creative workshops.