Prentice students place in Congressional art competition

Prentice students were named third place and honorable mention winners of Wisconsin’s Seventh District 2024 Congressional Art Competition, according to a May 2 press release from the office of U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-WI. The theme for the 2024 competition was “A day in the life of Wisconsin.’

Nicholas Gonzalez, who attends Prentice High School, was named the third place winner for his work, “Revaluation of a John Deere.” His artwork will be displayed in Rep. Tiffany’s Wausau office for a year.

Matthew Schmidt, also a Prentice High School student, was among two young artists to receive an honorable mention for his work, “The Beauty of New Life,” depicting a photo of a newly born calf.

The first place winner is Aila Laakso, who attends Superior High School, for her work, “The Beauty of Wisconsin,” depicting regional features within the shape of the state.

Laakso will have her work displayed for one year in the Cannon House Office Building Tunnel, a walkway that leads to the U.S. Capitol. Southwest Airlines also offers each first-place winner two round-trip tickets to attend a reception in Washington, D.C.

The second place winner is Aselin Olson, who attends Shell Lake High School, for her work titled “Success.” Olson’s artwork will be displayed in Rep. Tiffany’s Washington, D.C. office.

The second honorable mention was awarded to Emma Chandler, who is a HomeLife Academy student, for her work, “Autumn Sunrise in the Northwoods.”

Since it was started in 1982, the Congressional Art Competition was designed to provide young artists from across the Seventh District the opportunity to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for an entire year.

“Every year, I am amazed by the talented young artists in the Seventh District,” Tiffany said in the press release. “Congratulations to those who placed in the top three, the honorable mentions, and a huge thank you to all thirty-two students who submitted pieces this year.”