Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) announced Thursday the winners of the Congressional Art Competition featuring artwork from high school students in Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District. This year’s theme was “Patriotism in the Heartland.”

The first prize was taken by Sydni VanHoose of Southern Boone High School for her work “Welcome Home.” Second place honors went to Maclaren Senor of Glasgow High School for “Patriotic Overlook.” The third place ribbon was awarded to Dylan Pierce of Marshfield High School for “Patriotism.” This year also awarded the first ever “People’s Choice” award to Emily Osborn from Wheatland R-II School District for “American farm in the Heartland.”

The winning entry will hang in the main hallway tunnel connecting the House office buildings and the Capitol in Washington for one year and will join artwork from other Congressional districts from across the country.

Hartzler also announced a new award for this year’s competition, the People’s Choice Award. ‘People’s Choice’ champion for 2016 is Emily Osborn of Wheatland, her work will hang in Hartzler’s DC office for the next year.

As an added bonus, Columbia College President, Scott Dalrymple, has generously offered $1,000 scholarships to attend Columbia College to each artist who submitted an entry this year.

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation., as well as in our Congressional District.