HR manager’s daughter honored in congressional art competition
By Andy Kriege, YSN
Milwaukee-based Colder’s is particularly proud of Nora Perugini.
Nora, daughter of Sharie Perugini, the BrandSource member’s HR manager, won first place for Wisconsin’s 5th Congressional District in this year’s U.S. Congressional Art Competition.
The annual visual art competition, sponsored by The Congressional Institute, has evaluated the submissions of over 650,000 high school students since the Artistic Discover program was launched in 1982. The Institute holds the competition each spring to encourage and recognize artistic talent in our nation. Students submit their original artwork to their local congressional office for judging by a panel of artists, and the top entry from each district is displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol. The art pieces also appear in a book featuring all the winning works.
Congressman Scott Fitzgerald declared Perugini’s oil pastel, “I Don’t Cry Pretty,” the district winner at her high school in Hartland and at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Nora and her parents traveled there in March to see her painting on display in the Cannon Tunnel, the U.S. Capitol’s most highly traveled hall, which leads to the House Chamber.
According to Perugini’s mom, “Nora’s artistic talent comes from her grandmother, who is also an artist and has spent many hours mentoring her since she was very young.”
Internship at Colder’s
Another great learning experience for Perugini was interning with the Colder’s visual display team, which helped bring out the best in her artistic abilities. “Since I love to paint they had me work on some projects where we cut objects from foam, and I painted them to accent the room displays,” she said. “I also helped prepare and make new Christmas decorations, assembled small accessories, moved furniture in the showrooms and helped with inventory. I loved working at Colder’s; it was fun.”
Perugini is currently a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where she is pursuing a BFA in musical theater with a minor in art. She said she was taken aback by the honor but thrilled to be chosen.
“I was completely shocked. I had commissioned paintings before and received honorable mentions in other art competitions, but this was the first big one,” she said. “I couldn’t believe that my artwork was going to be on display at the nation’s capital.”
Congratulations to Perugini, her proud parents and the entire Colder’s team.
YSN publisher AVB BrandSource is the nation’s largest merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.
