Valley Sun All-star Nicolle Kwon:

She’s a talented artist and an all around good kid, according to teachers, counselors and those who know her.

This week’s Valley Sun All- Star is Nicolle Kwon, 15, of La Cañada, a sophomore at Crescenta Valley High School.

Kwon recently won second-place in the Congressional Art Contest, and her acrylic painting, “A Study on Surrealism,” will be on display throughout the coming year on the wall of Congressman David Dreier’s San Dimas office.

Each congressional district hosts its own competition and sends the first-place honoree’s work on to Washington, D.C., where it and the art of other high school students from across the country will be on display in the nation’s capitol.

This year’s first-place painting was created by Evelyn Jarrous, of Glendora.

Dreier said the competition was an excellent opportunity to highlight the work of talented youths, many who will become future artists.

“I always look forward to this annual competition to meet some of our most promising and talented high school students,” Dreier said, adding, “I look forward to having Nicolle’s artwork on display in my district office for the next year.”

Kwon is the daughter of Samuel and Michelle Kwon of La Cañada. She has a sister, Jennifer, 21, a student at the University of California Los Angeles.

Nicolle Kwon was born in La Crescenta and moved with her family to La Cañada in 1998. She attended Mountain Avenue Elementary School and Rosemont Middle School.

Her primary passion is art, but she also likes to read, is on the school’s yearbook staff, enjoys spending time with her friends and using the Internet, her mom said.

The younger Kwon took art lessons as a child and has put to use much of what she has learned.

Sarah Wiggins, her art teach at Crescenta Valley High School, said her student has a lot of “natural talent.”

“Nicolle is a very diligent girl, and has a strong work ethic, but a lot of what she does comes naturally,” Wiggins said.

“She catches on quickly and if you give her an idea, she runs with it,” she added.

Although the youth has a natural tendency to over critique her own work and compulsively care about small details, she is very talented, her teacher said.

“You’re going to see a lot more art work out of her,” Wiggins said.

Kwon said she plans to continue her artwork, and would love to pursue a career in the art world, but she also plans to study biology and physiology in college and eventually become a nurse, as a “more practical goal.”

For now, art is her favorite pastime. “I love art and I love life,” she said, adding, “I find my art helps me to be positive and it helps me interact positively.”

IF YOU’D LIKE TO NOMINATE an exceptional young person to be a Valley Sun All-Star who lives in La Crescenta or is a student here, e-mail lcnews@valleysun.net.