Carbajal Announces Winners of 2023 Congressional Art Competition

By the Office of Rep. Salud Carbajal

Congressman Salud Carbajal announced the honorees for the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for the 24thCongressional District, including the winner, three runners up, and the recipient of the ‘People’s Choice’ award.

The first-place prize went to Buena High School sophomore Bennett Urwick for their piece The Backbone of Industry. Urwick’s art will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, alongside the other winners from every congressional district.

Runners up were Dunn School senior Nolan Waters for Hero, San Marcos High School senior Jackson Leck for Curiosity Reimagined, and Santa Barbara High School senior Ella Bailey for Amanda Gorman, Leader of a New Generation.

The People’s Choice Award, selected by popular vote on Congressman Carbajal’s website, went to Ernest Righetti High School senior Eliza Hero for Healing.

“I’d like to congratulate Bennett, Nolan, Jackson, Ella, Eliza, and all of the talented high school artists from across the Central Coast who submitted their work,” said Carbajal. “I am consistently amazed at the creativity displayed in the submissions from students across the Central Coast – and this year is no exception.”

The winners were selected by a panel of local artists and teachers from the Central Coast.

All submissions to this year’s Congressional Art Competition were showcased at a local art show last month, and are viewable here.Entries were limited to current middle and high school students living in California’s 24th Congressional District.

The Congressional Art Competition first began in 1982, and since then more than 650,000 students have participated from across the U.S.

First runner up: Hero by Nolan Waters, Dunn School, Los Olivos

Second runner up: Curiosity Reimagined by Jackson Leck, San Marcos High School, San Marcos

Third runner up: Amanda Gorman, Leader of a New Generation by Ella Bailey, Santa Barbara High School, Santa Barbara

People’s Choice: Healing by Eliza Haro, Ernest Righetti High School, Santa Maria

Rep. Salud Carbajal represents California’s 24th Congressional District, encompassing Santa Barbara County and portions of San Luis Obispo County and Ventura County. He is a member of the Agriculture and Armed Services Committees, as well as the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he serves as the top Democrat on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.