Suffolk Reporter

DIX HILLS, NY - Representative Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) today announced Maia Schnaider, a student at Half Hollow Hills High School West, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. Schnaider's piece, entitled 'Forever Indebted,' will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

"I am thrilled to announce Maia Schnaider of Half Hollow Hills West as the winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. Her piece, 'Forever Indebted,' is a great portrayal of her grandparents' pursuit of the American Dream," said LaLota. "Through her art, Maia captures the resilience and hope that define their journey, serving as a reminder of the endless opportunities our country offers. Congratulations, Maia, on this well-deserved recognition of your talent and a wonderful tribute to your family."

Schnaider shared her inspiration behind her artwork: "When I think of a Patriotic American Icon, I think of the American flag, which symbolizes the unity that people of different backgrounds and stories share and the promise of freedom. Written between the lines of the flag is a famous quote from ‘The New Colossus’ on the Statue of Liberty, another significant icon of America," she said. "My Grandparents are immigrants who came to the United States in the 80s; one is a child of World War Two survivors from Eastern Europe, and the other from the Middle East. Both came to America for all that the flag and Emma Lazarus's poem symbolize.”