Bethlehem grad tours Capitol after winning congressional art contest
Katie Brooks stands with her original art as it hangs in the Cannon House Building. Katie is a 2011 graduate of Bethlehem High School (click to enlarge).
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 5 a.m. — Katie Brooks, 18, a 2011 graduate of Bethlehem High School, returned to her Cox’s Creek home late last week after a trip to Washington, D.C. Her visit to the nation’s capital was at the invitation of U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie (2nd-KY) after she won the Second Congressional District Art Contest.
Katie and her mother, Tammy Brooks, visited the Capitol last Thursday to meet with Guthrie and his staff. After the “regular” tour of the Capitol building, Guthrie personally escorted the pair around the Capitol in areas not open to regular tours.
The pair’s visit came during a time when members of the House of Representatives were casting votes, and Guthrie’s tour was interrupted by the necessity of going to the House chambers and voting. The tour took them to areas of the House gallery and in the hallways of the congressional office building where they were instructed they could not take photographs.
Katie’s winning artwork, show in the photo above right, will hang on display in Washington for the next year.
From left, Tammy Brooks, Katie Brooks and Rep. Brett Guthrie share a moment on the balcony of House Speaker John Boehner's office in the Capitol (click to enlarge).
Rep. Guthrie’s tour of the Capitol took them through some back passageways and hallways. Knowing of Katie’s passion for art, Guthrie took time to point out the art and architectural details as they group toured the Capitol. One of the highlights of the tour was a trip to House Speaker John Boehner’s office to take in the beautiful view of the Washington Mall and the Washington Monument from his office balcony.
During Guthrie’s tour, Katie and her mother had to make way for presidential hopeful Rep. Michelle Bachman, who they said was trying to navigate the crowded hallway to go cast her vote.
Tammy Brooks recommended that anyone who planned to visit Washington be sure to check with Rep. Guthrie’s office for an opportunity to meet with him and members of his staff.
“It was a fantastic trip,” Brooks sad. “Just remember to pack your walking shoes because you’ll need them.”
Editor’s note: Katie is the daughter of Jim & Tammy Brooks of Cox’s Creek. She will be a freshman at Eastern Kentucky University in the fall majoring in art and graphic design.
