Guthrie Announces Winners of 2026 Congressional Art Competition

<strong>Bowling Green, KY – </strong>Last night, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) hosted the awards ceremony for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition on the campus of Barren County High School.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
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“Every year, I look forward to seeing the creativity of our young people expressed in the submissions for the Congressional Art Competition – this year was no different,” <strong>said Congressman Brett Guthrie. </strong>“It was an honor to visit with these extraordinarily talented students, their families, teachers, and friends to celebrate their incredible accomplishments. I know that all of these artists have bright futures ahead, and I look forward to seeing our winning submissions proudly displayed on the walls of the U.S. Capitol and my offices. Great work!”<br />
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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">2026 Congressional Art Competition Reception and Awards Ceremony<br />
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The Congressional Art Competition allows high school students in Kentucky’s Second Congressional District to compete for the chance to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. This week’s reception gave artists from across the district the opportunity to showcase their artwork for their peers, family members, and judges.&nbsp;<br />
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The competition is judged by art professionals and professors from colleges and universities in the district. The "Overall First Place" winning artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. The second and third place submissions, in addition to the "Facebook Favorite", will be displayed in Congressman Guthrie's various Congressional offices.<br />
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<em>All submitted artwork for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition can be found <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/home/2026%20Congressional%20Art%20Competition%20Submissions">here</a>.<br />
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Pictures from yesterday’s reception can be found <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/home/2026%20Congressional%20Art%20Competition%20Reception">here</a>.<br />
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<strong>1st Place Overall:<br />
</strong>Tristan Sweeney - <em>Midnight Masquerade<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/a54ca365-30ce-45a5-83e6-62e99d2638b2.jpg" width="411" /></td>
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</em><strong>2nd Place Overall:</strong><em><br />
Blake Newton – The Space Between<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/483fb58f-f288-4037-8aa9-06219a26f2ba.jpg" width="358" /></td>
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<strong></strong></em><strong>3rd Place Overall:</strong><em><strong></strong><br />
</em>Ashley Banet –<em> Aspire to be a Vulture<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="534" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/2666c0be-f14b-45dc-8f7a-91b16390a034.jpg" width="550" /></td>
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</em><strong>Facebook Favorite:</strong><em><br />
</em>Danika Brown – <em>Christmas Truce<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="240" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/LowResolution/b161a2cd-e1c1-41c7-9145-45ff315507c4.jpg" width="234" /></td>
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<strong>Overall Honorable Mentions:</strong><br />
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1. Shelby Hollis – <em>The Bird<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/878afc94-6f82-4d69-950f-1104e1171505.jpg" width="430" /></td>
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2. Samantha Gex – <em>The Modern Knight<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/279fede2-a84a-45d6-a070-694a825dff7d.jpg" width="441" /></td>
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3. Willow Romans – <em>Wrapped Up</em><br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/7139147a-ab84-4557-86ed-9c91e440991d.jpg" width="441" /></td>
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<strong>County Winners:<br />
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</strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Butler County:<br />
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</strong>1. Mae Givens – <em>Portrait Unveiling</em><br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/b973d8ae-3504-4816-9e3b-c3b3b6cc1960.jpg" width="429" /></td>
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2. Samuel Morris – <em>Jelly Fish<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/91ebbb5e-aab3-4bb5-b2c0-ccd65998771b.jpg" width="433" /></td>
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<div>3. Willow Romans – Wrapped Up<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/7139147a-ab84-4557-86ed-9c91e440991d.jpg" width="441" /></td>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Hardin County:<br />
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1. Emma Ryker – <em>My Favorite World</em><br />
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<td><img alt="" height="401" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/40047255-43dd-4859-b4e2-5e662f8bc21d.jpg" width="550" /></td>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Hart County:</span><br />
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1. Ashley Banet – Tardigrade Hare<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="425" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/1c9a0185-2f65-48df-abd6-ad7924d6aa01.jpg" width="550" /></td>
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2. Jaxon Minor – <em>The Printing Mantis</em><br />
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<td><img alt="" height="435" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/1c0dc348-215d-4a6d-9814-b5396cf9cc66.jpg" width="550" /></td>
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3. Carly Chenoweth – <em>Change of Plans&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</em><br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/d09eb523-d243-450a-a031-4f79af8ae6da.jpg" width="434" /></td>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Marion County:<br />
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1. Blake Newton – <em>The Space Between<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/483fb58f-f288-4037-8aa9-06219a26f2ba.jpg" width="358" /></td>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Meade County:<br />
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>1. Samantha Gex – <em>The Modern Knight<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/279fede2-a84a-45d6-a070-694a825dff7d.jpg" width="441" /></td>
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</em>2. Danika Brown – <em>The Christmas Truce<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/b161a2cd-e1c1-41c7-9145-45ff315507c4.jpg" width="538" /></td>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Muhlenberg County:</span><em><br />
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</em>1. Kyleigh Daugherty – <em>Still Life of Glasses and Fruit<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="353" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/d49d219c-cb7d-452a-aec8-630985677f02.jpg" width="550" /></td>
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</em>2. Damien Berkley – <em>Aphrodite<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/f9c18058-d179-4933-8627-528dd5664720.jpg" width="408" /></td>
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<div>3. Leila Carter – <em>My Old Kentucky Mason Jar</em><br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/877482f6-7872-4e6e-bc97-50b9ab87ff58.jpg" width="404" /></td>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Nelson County:</span><br />
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1. Ava Alford – <em>Red Cross Nurses</em><br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/64537674-0f94-46ac-8459-4cbf80e33333.jpg" width="347" /></td>
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Warren County:<br />
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1. Tristan Sweeney – <em>The Raven</em><br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/d4f8963e-d370-493f-bb53-3c720e7fbb7d.jpg" width="431" /></td>
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2. Addyson Spencer – <em>Draped in Eternal Stillness<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="550" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/d2dd32c6-9f6f-41d3-998f-93976a6dfb43.jpg" width="326" /></td>
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3. Liam McDonald – <em>Harris Hawk<br />
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<td><img alt="" height="431" src="https://guthrie.house.gov/UploadedPhotos/MediumResolution/be7b2143-29b7-4fe7-8d88-3cd72555202f.jpg" width="550" /></td>
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