WASHINGTON — A decades old tradition brings together members of Congress and high school students from their districts. Each year, the Congressional Institute sponsors a visual art competition. The winners’ entries are displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
“It is definitely crazy,” said one of the winners Mehlia Michna, who will be a freshman at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in the fall. “It's something I never would have imagined I'd be doing at all.”
Michna said she wanted her self-portrait to be natural while also representing the toy she loves collecting.
“This is my walk to the Capitol from my office," said Rep. Bryan Steill, R-Janesville. "You get to see the work from Mehlia, and from other students across the country. It's really, to me, a real recognition of the amazing talent we have."
Each artist was given two tickets to travel to Washington, D.C. for the awards ceremony and a chance to meet with their representative.
“We always talk about things like math and science, but often [it’s] not just STEM education; it’s STEAM with the arts as part of it,” said Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison. “I think it's an important part of a well-rounded person, and this is one way to at least explore that part of arts education for kids.”
For one of those kids, a visit to the nation’s capital might have inspired her college major and future ambitions.
“I'm kind of inspired with all the politicians here and just how they are making a difference in the world,” said Magdalene Anderson, a senior at Lake Country Classical Academy. “So, I might look into political science, but also then looking into nursing or [being a] chiropractor.”
Anderson, whose realism assignment was to draw a fruit of choice, said she’s been doodling “forever.”
"Having the ability to post that artwork in D.C., I think it’s a real treat for the kids that do it and for their families,” said Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau.
Lawmakers said it was up to professionals in their districts to act as judges and pick the winners.
“I have a group of art teachers that make the selection,” Steil said.
“That way, you’re not getting my opinion, you’re getting an expert opinion,” Pocan added.
Delaina Nicewander, a rising junior at Mount Horeb High School, asked her family and friends what she should add to the drawing, and then she did. When she found out she won the competition, she said it was “surreal.”
“I didn't think I'd ever win something [so] big,” she said.