CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Six young artists have been selected as winners in the annual Congressional Art Competition, which is on display in the Balcony Gallery of the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, in Charleston until April 1. The exhibition is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH), in partnership with the West Virginia Congressional Delegation.
On Friday, Feb. 21, WVDACH Museum Director Charles Morris and Acting Cabinet Secretary Ennis Smith welcomed guests and introduced Elizabeth Crump, representing Congresswoman Carol Miller, and Rhett Dusenberry, representing Congressman Riley Moore.
First-place awards were presented to Emily Garrett, Braxton County High School, Braxton County, District 1; and Ava Scolapio, Robert C. Byrd High School, Harrison County, District 2. The first-place winners received a $100 gift certificate from Dick Blick Art Materials, and their work will represent West Virginia in a yearlong Congressional Art Competition exhibition at the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
An additional two second-place winners and two third-place winners received awards – Katelyn Lowe, George Washington High School, Kanawha County, District 1, 2nd place; Chloe Barnard, Lincoln High School, Harrison County, District 2, 2nd place; Marin Wickline, Huntington High School, Cabell County, District 1, 3rd place; and Lily Childress, Liberty High School, Harrison County, District 2, 3rd place. Second place and third-place winners received a $50 gift certificate from Dick Blick Art Materials.
The Congressional Art Exhibition consists of 141 pieces by 115 students, grades 7-12, from 13 West Virginia counties.
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual-art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. The competition is sponsored by members of the United States Congress.
A complete list of students whose work is included in the exhibition is below. For more information, contact Sidney Duncan, exhibits coordinator for the department, at (304) 558-0220 or Sidney.L.Duncan@wv.gov.
MEDIA NOTE: All photographs from the event are available at https://wvculture.zenfolio.com/p688584924.
All Photo Credits: Stephen Brightwell, WVDACH
Winner photographs (those in attendance):
First place, Emily Garrett – https://bit.ly/41Hl7xd (left to right) WVDACH Acting Cabinet Secretary Ennis Smith; Emily Garrett, 1st place, District 1; Elizabeth Crump, representative for Congresswoman Carol Miller.
Second place, Katelyn Lowe – https://bit.ly/4iuMKin (left to right) WVDACH Acting Cabinet Secretary Ennis Smith; Katelyn Lowe, 2nd place, District 1; Elizabeth Crump, representative for Congresswoman Carol Miller.
Second place, Chloe Barnard – https://bit.ly/3F4LeFk (left to right) WVDACH Acting Cabinet Secretary Ennis Smith; Chloe Barnard, 2nd place, District 2; Rhett Dusenberry, representative for Congressman Riley Moore.
2025 Congressional Youth Art Competition Exhibit (listed by district and county)
DISTRICT 1
BOONE COUNTY
Scott High School
Teacher: Ashleigh Garrett
Grant Hager, Grade 10
Flesh, Graphite on Paper
Harley Kirby, Grade 12
Infinite Bond, Mixed Media
Sabrina Leavitt, Grade 10
Two of the Same, Mixed Media
Teacher: David Brock
John C., Grade 12
Home, Acrylic on Canvas
Gabriel C., Grade 11
Current Mood, Acrylic on Canvas
Braedyn M., Grade 11
Blue, Acrylic on Canvas
BRAXTON COUNTY
Braxton County High School
Teacher: Shawn Crow
Emily Garrett, Grade 12 (1st place)
*Spring 2010, Oil Pastels on Paper
Wineberry Picking, Acrylic on Canvas
CABELL COUNTY
Huntington High School
Teachers: Angela Webb, Dianna Fraizer, Shannon Marshall, Marisa Main
Mason Allen, Grade 12
Crushed, Mixed Media
Elias, Photography
John Bishop, Grade 11
Sammy in the Night, Photography
Jai’Vion Jerome Canady, Grade 11
Lily from the Hill, Photography
Lauryn Coffman, Grade 11
The Raven and the Ark, Marker on Paper
Chloe Coles, Grade 11
Sidewalk, Photography
Aiden Delaney, Grade 11
Among the Ice, Photography
Annabelle Lucas, Grade 11
Subtle Moments, Photography
Madilynn Mers, Grade 11
Koi the Fish, Photography
Bailey Payne, Grade 11
Spider Web Maze, Photography
Ava Smith, Grade 12
Snake Eyes, Oil on Canvas
Alexandra Walker, Grade 11
The Verge, Photography
Bodhi Warner, Grade 10
Last Chair, Photography
Cameron Warren, Grade 11
Catch All, Photography
Marin Wickline, Grade 12 (3rd place)
Fur Babies, Tempera Paint on Paper
*Teal Still Life, Tempera Paint on Paper
Spring Valley High School
Teacher: Sara Tess Hager
Savannah Parker, Grade 11
Sunset Silhouette, Mixed Media
Millie Workman, Grade 10
I’ll Remember You as Blue, Digital Drawing
Hold Me, Acrylic on Paper
Kaylynn Spangler, Grade 11
Skull Garden, Mixed Media
Deer in Headlights, Mixed Media
Alyssa Staley, Grade 11
Shoes, Acrylic on Paper
Masked Figure, Acrylic on Paper
Madden Coble, Grade 9
Smile, Colored Pencil
FAYETTE COUNTY
Meadow Bridge Regional School
Teacher: Tonya Mills
Sandra Ballenger, Grade 12
Night Stalker, Marker on Paper
American Toad, Marker on Paper
Bryce Bennett, Grade 7
The Three Crosses, Mixed Media Collage
Matthew Carothers, Grade 7
Untitled, Mixed Media Collage
Faith Cooper, Grade 8
Byzantine Cross, Mixed Media Collage
Andrew Crowe, Grade 10
Life, Mixed Media Collage
Brianna Crowe, Grade 8
Symbol of God, Mixed Media Collage
William Fernatt, Grade 8
The Holy Land, Mixed Media Collage
Erin Fox, Grade 10
Fiery Flamingo, Mixed Media Collage
Nakita Garretson, Grade 8
Wave of Metallic, Mixed Media Collage
My Favorite Things in Abstract, Marker on Paper
Kyndal Gilkenson, Grade 10
Quackers, Mixed Media Collage
Asiya Gray, Grade 10
Lovely Dove, Mixed Media Collage
Nicholas Hamons, Grade 10
I Love Jesus, Mixed Media Collage
Madalin Harkins, Grade 8
Midnight Sky, Mixed Media Collage
Dalila Hayes, Grade 8
Pretty Day, Mixed Media Collage
Miranda Hurt, Grade 8
The Dinosaur Feelings, Marker on Paper
Peyton Killen, Grade 9
Frankenstein Rabbit, Mixed Media Collage
Pumpkin Patch, Marker on Paper
Lelia Knight, Grade 7
Cross of the Mountains, Mixed Media Collage
Teagan McClintic, Grade 7
Untitled, Mixed Media Collage
Sarah Walker, Grade 8
Noot Noot Bird, Mixed Media Collage
KANAWHA COUNTY
George Washington High School
Teacher: Sugitha Srinivasan
Mrithula Premchanth, Grade 11
Turtle, Mixed Media
Lotus, Pastel on Paper
Teacher: Christy Pennington
Wyatt Barnett, Grade 10
Lions Pride, Mixed Media
Ava Berry, Grade 12
Butterfly Healing, Mixed Media
Anahli Cordell, Grade 12
Persisting Memory, Mixed Media
Forgotten, Acrylic Painting
Krishnathas Archana, Grade 12
A Troop of Four, Oil on Canvas
Alexis Lowe, Grade 12
A Cry for a Savior, Charcoal and Graphite on Paper
Weeping Willow, Mixed Media
Katelyn Lowe, Grade 12 (2nd place)
*Grist Mill on the Sycamore, Mixed Media
Katherine Mattix, Grade 11
The Imperfect Painting, Watercolor on Paper
Emma Miller, Grade 11
Goddess of Love and Beauty, Charcoal on Paper
Madeleine Peyatte, Grade 12
The Nights Cavalry, Watercolor and Pen on Paper
Princess Cadence in My Hands, Acrylic Painting
Ava Shamblen, Grade 12
Starvation, Mixed Media
Girl in Bed, Mixed Media
Rachel Thompson, Grade 11
Air Head, Mixed Media
Pink Pussycat Hats, Mixed Media
Eric Vickers, Grade 12
America Surviving 9/11, Mixed Media
Garishly Greedy, Chalk Pastel
Jenna VonCrist, Grade 11
Monkey in a Matcha Hot Spring, Gouache on Paper
The Entertainers, Watercolor on Paper
Cabott Williams, Grade 12
Puppeteering, Charcoal on Paper
Lense to the Past, Chalk Pastel
Lily Wilson, Grade 12
POGO, Acrylic Painting
Herbert Hoover High School
Teacher: Niesha Shank
Khalia Reid, Grade 11
Into West Virginia, Oil on Canvas
Nitro High School
Teacher: Danielle Hunt
Adalai Elizabeth Bellue, Grade 9
Surrealism, Mixed Media
John Boggs, Grade 12
Deer Collage, Mixed Media Collage
Alexi Bostic, Grade 11
Notan, Marker on Paper
Allie Boyles, Grade 10
Haunted Camden, Watercolor on Paper
Aniyaha Brown, Grade 10
Kitten Picture, Colored Pencil
Baylee Carpenter, Grade 12
Ski Mask, Pen and Ink on Paper
Joker, Acrylic on Canvas
Mackynzie Casto, Grade 11
Peacock, Colored Pencil
Moth, Mixed Media
Mousey Duckworth, Grade 11
Up the Mountains at Cass, Oil Pastels on Paper
Maddison Fisher, Grade 11
Mixed Media, Mixed Media
Samuel Frampton, Grade 11
The Triangle Cave at Seneca Rocks, Oil Pastels on Paper
Kaeden K. Jerry-Watson, Grade 10
A Hawk, Watercolor on Paper
The Old Mill, Watercolor on Paper
Savannah Elizabeth Marie, Grade 9
Color Theory Drawing, Colored Pencil
Tyler Onks, Grade 11
Lucky, Mixed Media on Paper
Reversal, Markers and Ink on Paper
Dylan Poston, Grade 12
Trash Panda, Mixed Media Collage
Kingsley Reynolds, Grade 12
Pastel Features, Pastel and Chalk on Paper
Crazy Lines, Ink on Paper
Natalie Serrano, Grade 10
Monochrome View, Ink on Paper
Natalie Smith, Grade 12
Ring Pop, Colored Pencil
Collage New River, Collage
Vixen Taylor, Grade 11
Mixed Texture Study, Mixed Media
MASON COUNTY
Wahama Junior and Senior High School
Teacher: Susan Parrish
Payton Barnitz, Grade 11
Mawmaw and Pawpaw, Mixed Media
Aly Barnitz, Grade 11
The Beauty of Nature, Acrylic Painting
Laney Barnitz, Grade 11
The Wellspring of Life, Mixed Media
Sydnee Marshall, Grade 8
Puppy Dog Eyes, Graphite on Paper
Logan Neal, Grade 11
Mother, Mixed Media
Elijah Northup, Grade 9
Intertwined, Acrylic Painting
MERCER COUNTY
Bluefield High School
Teacher: Victoria Lilly
Isabelle Odell, Grade 12
Symbols of Home, Mixed Media
Blue, Pen on Paper
RALEIGH COUNTY
Liberty High School
Teacher: Tonja Raines
Heidi Hutchinson, Grade 11
Birdhouse, Colored Pencil
WAYNE COUNTY
Tolsia High School
Teacher: Andrea Price
Jenna Foley, Grade 11
Proud, Graphite on Paper
DISTRICT 2
HARDY COUNTY
East Hardy High School
Teacher: Taylor Stickley
Jaedyn Funk, Grade 9
Bee-utiful Flower, Acrylic on Canvas
HARRISON COUNTY
Liberty High School
Teacher: Beth Roselius
Aubri Adams, Grade 9
Blackwater Falls, Scratchboard
Lily Childress, Grade 12 (3rd place)
*Ella, Chalk Pastel on Paper
Grace Gawthrop, Grade 11
The Student Gorilla, Cut Paper Collage
Laiken Holden, Grade 11
Paper Airplanes, Graphite on Paper
Mable Nice, Grade 11
Mama Bear, Chalk Pastel on Paper
Jayden Shepherd, Grade 11
Real, Cut Paper Collage
Lincoln High School
Teacher: Brianna Saddler
Chloe Barnard, Grade 10 (2nd place)
*The Leap, Acrylic on Paper
The Man, Acrylic on Paper
Lorelai Wolfe, Grade 9
Marilyn in Pieces, Pencil on Paper
Peyton Hamrick, Grade 10
Broken Face Drawing, Pencil on Paper
Robert C. Byrd High School
Teacher: Katherine Crim
Maria Roselius, Grade 10
Woodburn Hall, WVU, Scratchboard
Kate Brade, Grade 11
Bouquet, Watercolor on Paper
Miyako Cole, Grade 11
An Old Beauty, Watercolor on Paper
Elizabeth Conley, Grade 11
Pride, Scratchboard
Alex Davis, Grade 11
Kickstart Your Heart, Cut Paper Collage
Aaliyah Dodrill, Grade 11
Stripes and Stars on My Heart, Markers and Pen on Paper
Sydney Goodwin, Grade 10
Forest, Pop, Acrylic on Panel
Tamia Lewis, Grade 10
I Wanna Be a Star Mama!, Cut Paper Collage
Naudia Ng, Grade 11
Hi, Biscus!, Mixed Media
Kaylee Purkey, Grade 10
Overthinker, Acrylic on Canvas
Ava Scolapio, Grade 11 (1st place)
*En Pointe, Mixed Media
Zoie Small, Grade 12
The Great Ceaser, Acrylic on Canvas
Lizah Wash, Grade 10
Baptist Corndogs, Mixed Media
OHIO COUNTY
The Linsly School
Teacher: Jes Reger
Sydney Burke, Grade 11
Love to the Bones, Photography
Wheeling Park High School
Teacher: Jess Reger
Jules Burke, Grade 10
Aurora Borealis in WV??!!??, Photography
RITCHIE COUNTY
Ritchie County High School
Teacher: Ruth Windom
Thomas Bucher, Grade 9
Gilmer County Barn, Mixed Media