Celebrating the Artistic Achievements of High School Students in the Age of COVID-19

Haley Jennings, a student artist at Antilles School, won two top prizes in the 2020 Virgin Islands Congressional Art Competition.

Haley Jennings’ first-place artwork is entitled “So is this what the world has come to?” (Image, Virgin Islands Council of the Arts)

Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett hosted the competition for the Virgin Islands. The judges were – Jasmine Lindquist, Iria Stiles and Jannet Prosper.

The Congressional Institute sponsors the Congressional Art Competition. The annual competition celebrates the artistic achievements of the nation’s high school students. Each Member of Congress may choose to host the program in their individual districts. Many offices ask a panel of local artists, such as artists-in-residence, art teachers, gallery owners, to act as judges. The winning artwork will hang in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year. The tunnel is the most highly traveled access point between the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Capitol. Every day, Members of Congress, distinguished visitors, and tens of thousands of tourists – from the United States and abroad – walk through the tunnel and admire the artwork.