Two Virginia students won awards in the national aviation art competition sponsored by the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO). Callie Hu of Great Falls, VA, took second place in the Junior category, and Tongfei Karen Ji of Vienna, VA, earned second place in the Intermediate category. As national winners, they will progress onto the International Aviation Art Contest sponsored by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The national annual art contest included more than 150 entries from 20 states.

Virginia’s two national winners were among the nine students who won the state-level art contest that is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV). This year’s theme was “Air Sports and the Environment” and was open to all students in the Commonwealth.

Wenyan Huang, mother of Callie Hu, was overjoyed that her daughter won second place. “She paints for herself most of the time,” said Huang. More surprisingly, Callie’s first-ever art award was from the DOAV for this year’s state competition, and her second award was won at the national level from NASAO – for the same piece of art.

Tony Sotelo of the Virginia Department of Aviation said, “Good luck, Callie and Tongfei! The DOAV and all Virginians are proud that you two are representing our country – and the Commonwealth – on the international stage.”

The DOAV congratulates all of the 2023 U.S. winners:

Junior Category:

• 1st Place: Yuham Lam – New Jersey, Age 9
• 2nd Place: Callie Hu – Virginia, Age 9
• 3rd Place: Ian Shan – Arizona, Age 9

Intermediate Category:

• 1st Place: Jihyeon (Elly) Han – Kansas, Age 13
• 2nd Place: Tongfei Karen Ji – Virginia, Age 13
• 3rd Place: Renata Albano – Arizona, Age 10

Senior Category:

• 1st Place: Isabel Chang – North Carolina, Age 17
• 2nd Place: Audrey Song – North Carolina, Age 15
• 3rd Place: Cynthia Liu – Arizona, Age 14