Latino Art Beat concluded its 16th consecutive annual art competition titled “What Hispanic Heritage and Culture Means to Me?” with entries from high school juniors and seniors from Chicago (and statewide throughout Illinois), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, D.C. Award ceremonies are being held in participating cities during National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th – October 15th) recognizing these talented young artists.

Select winners will receive scholarships to attend their college or University of choice. This year’s Illinois winner is Celita Ann Codamon, a high school senior from Lane Technical High School, who graduates in June 2014. Her artwork is titled “Day of the Dead – Nightlife.” Codamon and the other Illinois winners will be feted at an awards ceremony to be held in Chicago next month. As a result of her winning place, she was awarded a full summer scholarship to attend college credit courses at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA, where she attended this past summer. “Entering and winning in the Illinois Latino Art Beat competition and then being in Boston studying for the summer – with all expenses, tuition and travel paid for really changed my life, I loved it! The whole experience was amazing and I thank Latino Art Beat for kindly helping me with this wonderful opportunity,” says Codamon.