Montgomery, AL — U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) has announced the winner of the 2022 Congressional Art Competition for Alabama's 7th Congressional District. The announcement was made at a virtual reception held Monday night during which Sewell joined participants to celebrate the 40 entries submitted this year by talented students from across the 7th district. Isabella Dennison, a 10th grader at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery, was awarded first place for her submission entitled "Legacy."

“The 7th Congressional District is blessed to have so many talented students,” said Rep. Sewell. “I was truly amazed by each of the 40 entries submitted this year. Our first place winner, Isabella Dennison, did a wonderful job capturing our 2022 theme, ‘Alabama Awesome… The History Continues.’ Her piece speaks to the opportunity and responsibility that each of us has to carry on the legacy of the generations who came before us.”

“This competition is a testament to the importance of cultivating the imagination and creativity of our young people through the arts,” continued Sewell. “I am so proud of Isabella and all of the aspiring artists who participated.”

"In this piece, I sought to portray the concept of legacy and how it ties into Alabama history," said winner Isabella Dennison. "Many visual representations of Alabama include the state flower and animals, paired with a section of the iconic Rosa Parks bus. Our diverse history is also represented in the colorful silhouettes in the background. Generational legacy and growth is shown in growing plants that start small and then flourish. The main focus is a young child being lifted to sow the fruits of past generations, demonstrating how the old, young, past, and future are all essential to a legacy. "

“Isabella's piece ‘Legacy’ is a poignant visual representation of our generation,” said Dennison’s Art Teacher, Mrs. Chintia Kirana. “Kids are the future, regardless of their adversities, we must lift them for the future of our nation's Democracy.” 

Dennison’s artwork will be matted, framed, and displayed in the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. for one year. She and a guardian will receive roundtrip airfare to Washington D.C. to attend the National Congressional Art Competition Reception.

Contingent upon enrolling, Savannah College of Art and Design will award the winner a scholarship of $12,000 over four years.

The other students that placed were: 

• 2nd Place - Onda McKnight, 7th grader at the Capitol School in Tuscaloosa
• 3rd Place - Rebecca Z. DeCaro, 12th grader at Paul W. Bryant High School in Cottondale
• Honorable Mention - Soniya Chames, 9th grader at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery

Photos of each participant's artwork and information on each artist and judge can be found here.