Press Releases

WICHITA—Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) helped announce the winners of this year's Congressional Art Competition tonight during a reception and awards program May 3, 2019, at Mark Arts in Wichita. Each year, the U.S. House of Representatives hosts An Artistic Discovery: Congressional Art Competition for High School Students, which takes place in each congressional district with each first-place winner having their artwork on display in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for about one year. Because of his support for young artists in the 4th congressional district of Kansas, Rep. Estes also hosted an art exhibit in the district to display and celebrate the talent of all of the participants. This year, the 4th Congressional District had 209 entries from 167 students representing 12 high schools.
 
"The annual Congressional Art Completion is a great way to showcase the artistic talent of our young people here in the 4th District," said Rep. Estes. "Thank you to all of the students who participated this year and I look forward to our district's artwork being on display in the U.S. Capitol."
 
The winner, Maggie Krout, an Arkansas City High School student, received a cash prize courtesy of Gary and Karma Mason, as well as two roundtrip airfare tickets to Washington, D.C., to attend a reception courtesy of Southwest Airlines. Second and third place winners also received cash prizes courtesy of Craig and Dalene Nelson. Seven other students received Honorable Mentions.
 
The jury consisted of Jim Clements, Oil Painter; Katy Dorrah, Executive Director, Mark Arts; Steve Rasmussen, Photographer; Karen Scroggins, Assistant Professor of Graphic Arts, Friends University; and Dimitris Skliris, Exhibitions Director and Scholastic Art Awards, Mark Arts.
 
2019 Congressional Art Competition – Final Results
 
1st – Maggie Krout, In Search of Peanut Butter, Colored Pencil, Arkansas City High School
2nd – Francisca Posadas, It’s All in Your Head, Pencil, Arkansas City High School
3rd – Ethan Andrews, The Farm, Colored Pencil, Cheney High School
 
Honorable Mention
Sarah Black, Eyes Like Those, Digital Painting, Wichita East High School
Payton Coleman, Grandpa at Fall River, Colored Pencil, Wichita Northeast Magnet High School
Rose Cunningham, Float, Photograph - Wichita Collegiate School
JeAnna Gregg, Mia, Mixed Media – Wichita Collegiate School
Diana Nguyen, Sweet as Honey, Mixed Media, Wichita East High School
Francisca Posadas, Epilogue, Colored Pencil, Arkansas City High School
Anahi Ticum, Woman Ik, Acrylic, Wichita Northwest High School

Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas’ 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.