Congratulations to Abigail Presley, the first-place winner of Mississippi's First Congressional District Art Competition. Abigail, an 11th-grade student at Corinth High School, earned this honor for her watercolor painting titled "Legacy," which was inspired by her family's strong tradition of military service.
Her father, Edward Presley, a former West Point cadet, is featured in the painting and now works in Iuka with Northrop Grumman helping build B-21 Raiders. Her brother, also depicted in the artwork, is an ROTC cadet at the University of Memphis who has completed Air Assault School at Fort Campbell and will attend U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning this summer.
Abigail's artwork will be displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel leading to the U.S. Capitol. We congratulate Abigail on this outstanding achievement and commend her remarkable talent.
2026 Congressional Art Competition Winners:
1st Place: Abigail Presley, Corinth High School - Watercolor painting titled "Legacy"
2nd Place: Isabella Hancock, Hernando, MS - Acrylic painting titled "King of the Jungle"
3rd Place: Carley Foster, Booneville High School - Acrylic painting titled "Luke 16:10"
4th Place: Hannah Horton, New Albany High School - Acrylic painting titled "Dance with Me"
5th Place: Aylin Hernandez, Corinth High School - Pencil piece titled "Sophia's First"
5th Place: Isaac Snodgrass, Alcorn Central High School - Pencil piece titled "Bestfriend"
Each spring, a nationwide high school art competition is sponsored by members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Congressional Institute. It is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent across the nation, as well as in our congressional district. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. For more information about the Congressional Art Competition, please visit the official Congressional Art Competition page.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in the First District. The over-all winner of our district's competition will be displayed for eleven months in the Cannon Tunnel that leads into the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nationwide. Additionally, winners will receive two plane tickets to travel to D.C. for the awards ceremony in June.
All entries must be an original in concept, design, and execution. Art entered in the contest may be up to 26" x 26" and 4" deep (with frame if winner).
The artwork may be:
Paintings - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
Drawings - including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers
Collage
Prints - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
Mixed Media
Computer Generated Art
Photography
If you would like more information on the annual Congressional Art Competition, please submit the following form or contact Melinda Whited at (662) 687-1525 or Melinda.Whited@mail.house.gov.
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