Moore Names Winners of 2026 Student Art Contest
Enterprise senior Annabelle de Hoyos takes AL-01 top prize as Alabama students earn national showcase in U.S. Capitol display
U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-AL-01) has announced the winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for Alabama’s First District, highlighting student talent from across the Wiregrass and Gulf Coast region.
Held each spring, the nationwide contest invites high school students to submit original artwork. The top entry from each district is displayed for one year inside the United States Capitol, offering young artists a rare national stage.
“This competition is one of my favorite traditions in Congress because it shines a light on the incredible talent we have right here at home,” Moore said. “These students represent the very best of Alabama’s creativity and work ethic. This is a tremendous honor for Annabelle, our overall first place winner, who will have her artwork displayed in our nation’s Capitol, where millions of visitors will have the chance to see her painting over the next year. I also want to congratulate all of our winners and honorees for the many hours they put into their pieces and the dedication they have displayed to their craft.”
The district’s top honor went to Annabelle de Hoyos, a senior at Enterprise High School, for her painting “Oranges & Ivy.” Her work will represent Alabama’s First District in the Capitol exhibition.
Student submissions this year spanned a wide mix of styles and mediums, from pencil sketches to photography and large-scale paintings. Local educators say the competition continues to draw strong participation from both public and private schools.
Category Winners and Honorees
Graphite Pencil
Best in Category: Myranda Henry – Providence Christian (9th Grade), “Heart of Stone”
Honorable Mention: Arielle Flury – Enterprise High School (10th Grade), “Bald Eagle”
Charcoal
Best in Category: Vanessa Andrade – Enterprise High School (11th Grade), “Teenage Girl’s Hope”
Honorable Mention: Mary Austin Townsend – Providence Christian (10th Grade), “Headed South”
Colored Pencil
Best in Category: Grady Salter – Providence Christian School (12th Grade), “A Fisherman’s Paycheck”
Honorable Mention: Myranda Henry – Providence Christian (9th Grade), “Yet They Were Friends”
Pastel
Best in Category: Philana Rodriguez – Enterprise High School (11th Grade), “Calamansi Tree”
Photography
Best in Category: Willow Williams – Red Level School (10th Grade), “Malicious Red”
Honorable Mention: Jade Pierce – Red Level School (11th Grade), “Self-Reflection”
Painting
Best in Category: Erma Goebel – Enterprise High School (11th Grade), “Cultural Ties”
Honorable Mentions:
Olivia O. Shows – Houston Academy (10th Grade), “Bourgeois Dinner Party”
Season Zou – Enterprise High School (11th Grade), “Between Creation & Collapse”
Isreal Fox – Baker High School (12th Grade), “Union”
Alex Hawley – Providence Christian School (9th Grade), “Lemon of Life”
Laura Faulk – Providence Christian School (10th Grade), “Flavors of Fun”
Delanie Garcia – Providence Christian School (10th Grade), “Summertime Sweetness”
Eliza Jacobs – Providence Christian School (10th Grade), “Kiwi Be Friends”
Penelope Jane Snell – Bayside Academy (11th Grade), “Specimen”
In addition to the Capitol display, several student works will be featured in Moore’s Washington office over the coming year.
The annual competition, sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives, has recognized student artists from across the country for more than four decades.
