Every year the Congressional Art Competition is held to recognize artists around the nation. This year, first place in our congressional district went to Payton Miller, a Millikan COMPASS senior, photographer, and former Corydon reporter.

Each congressional district holds a show for any high school student who lives within the district and would like to submit their art. Winners are honored within their district and at an awards ceremony in Washington D.C.

“They pick 30 finalists. Millikan had 18 of those 30, and then Photo had 11 of those 18 as well as the winning piece,” states Mr. Coppenger, Millikan’s Photography teacher.

“Because a lot of people view photography as ‘Oh, you took a picture’, they don’t really consider it art the way that photographers do,” shares Payton. “So I’m really proud that my piece is being able to be juried up against actual artworks and people have been able to see merit in the art that I am producing. Because for me it is art, it is a way of self-expression, and it is more than just clicking the shutter button on a camera.”

Payton’s artwork is now being displayed in Washington D.C.

This school year she has also won first place at the 40th annual Norman Gottlieb Student Art Exhibition and was featured in the Long Beach Museum of Art.