Montgomery, AL — Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced the winner of the Congressional Art Competition for Alabama's 7th Congressional District. The announcement comes following a virtual reception held Thursday, May 13, where Rep. Sewell joined participants and judges in celebrating the artwork submitted. This year, 14 pieces were submitted from talented high school students across Alabama’s 7th District. Demetrius Hill, a 9th grader at Center Point High School, was awarded first place for his submission entitled "Art and Activism: Stop Taking Our Fur."

“This year’s winner, Demetrius Hill, did a wonderful job of creating a piece that not only captured this year’s theme, ‘Imagine Alabama - Dreaming the Unthinkable,’ but also served as a powerful political statement,” said Rep. Sewell. “His piece truly speaks to the power of our youth and their dedication to activism. It is my honor each year to host this competition and although I wish that I could display all of the amazing artwork submitted, I am still filled with pride to have Demetrius’ work displayed in the Halls of Congress over the next year.”

“It is a great honor that I have placed first in this contest. I didn’t expect to win or even place at such a high rank,” said Demetrius Hill. “For my artwork to win makes me very happy and motivates me to continue making art. What inspired me for this piece is my love of bears and how I thought it is bad that they are sometimes killed in order to become a rug for someone's house. I decided to draw a bear protesting against these events and that is also how I came up with the name ‘Stop Taking Our Fur.’ Thank you so much for this honor of having my art on display in the U.S. Capitol Building and for the scholarship! I can’t wait to face my fear of heights and fly on a plane for the first time ever when I come to Washington D.C. for the show!”

“I am so honored and proud as his teacher that Demetrius’ artwork has received the first-place selection for the Congressional Art Competition. In our Art and Activism Unit, we explored many different causes and movements throughout history up to current day that have been catalysts to positive social change,” said Leah Hamel, Visual Arts teacher at Center Point High School. “Each student selected a cause that they believe in to create their artwork about, and Demetrius was very interested in the idea of man's influence on the wild and animal rights. Through his research, he decided to focus on animals that are hunted for luxury fur. He developed this piece over a month, learning new techniques and practicing daily. Center Point High School is so proud of Demetrius, and we look forward to being a part of his educational growth over the next few years of his high school career.”

Hill’s artwork will be matted, framed, and displayed in the Cannon Tunnel in Washington, D.C. for one year. He 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.

The other students that placed were: 

• 2nd Place- KB Hawkins, 9th grader at McAdory High School in McCalla, Alabama.
• 3rd Place- Kursty Robinson, 12th grader at Thomasville High School in Thomasville, Alabama. 
• Honorable Mention- JinWoo Brian Jeong, 9th grader at Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 

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