Hartzler Announces Congressional Art Competition Winners

Press Release

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) announced the winners of the 40th annual Congressional Art Competition for Missouri's Fourth Congressional District. High school students from local school districts submitted artwork which was judged at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg exhibition. Each year, students are presented with a different theme for the district art competition. This year's theme was "America's Heartland."

Knob Noster High School senior Taylor Trudell placed first in the competition with her water color painting titled, "Small Town, Big Colors." The painting features an almost photographic image of a two-story brick house centered in frame with a carport containing a black convertible to the left while the entire scene is shaded from afternoon light by surrounded trees.

Second place was awarded to Roy Kioko of Missouri Military Academy. His graphite artwork titled "Houses & Hills" consists of three hills. The first hill is lined with trees found in the Midwest and a country style house. The second hill to the right has a barn with a single tree and a chicken coop. The lowest hill has a house, small barn, and fencing. The landscape is viewed from a first-person point of view on a hill.

Riley Schultz finished in third place with her acrylic painting titled "Relics." She is a student at Crocker High School. The painting features a railroad crossing with a blue sky in the background. Her artwork serves as a reminder of Crocker's past and history. The depot was an important part of the town and is a reminder of how her hometown started.

The People's Choice Award was given to Tipton High School student Peyton Marcum for his piece titled, "Heroes of America." The artwork features Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima with the American flag and praying hands in the background.

Artwork from the first-place winner will be featured inside the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Second and third place pieces will be featured in Congresswoman Hartzler's congressional district offices located in Harrisonville and Columbia. Finally, the People's Choice winner, chosen among constituents on Facebook, will be placed inside Congresswoman Hartzler's Washington, D.C. office.

A former high school teacher at Lebanon and Belton High Schools, Hartzler enjoys giving local students the opportunity to participate in the art competition. Over 650,000 high school students have participated in the Congressional Art Competition since 1982. Each winner from any of the nation's 435 congressional districts in the U.S. House of Representatives will have their artwork featured in the tunnel connecting the House Office Buildings to the U.S. Capitol.

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