GREENSBORO, NC– U.S. Rep. Mark Walker (NC-06) today announced that Skyler Paschall from Orange High School was selected as the winner of this year's Congressional Art Competition for North Carolina’s Sixth District.

Paschall's submission, a self-portrait, was selected by locally renowned artist, William Mangum, from among dozens of entries from area high school students. The portrait will hang in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. for one year, and she will also receive two roundtrip tickets to Washington D.C., compliments of Southwest Airlines, to attend the official ceremony honoring Congressional Art Competition winners from across the nation. Walker announced this year's winners at a reception hosted at his Greensboro Congressional Office last week. Mr. Mangum also attended and presented the winners with a signed copy of his book, North Carolina Beautiful.

“I'd like to thank all of the students for participating in this year's competition, and I’m pleased to congratulate Orange High School’s Skyler Paschall for her winning entry,” said Walker. “I am amazed by all the talented young artists of the Sixth District, and we are so blessed to have artist William Mangum judge this great competition. I want to thank him for his wonderful support and know that his counsel is an invaluable resource for all the artists that attended. I look forward to seeing Skyler’s work displayed at the U.S. Capitol and am also honored to showcase the talented work of Jillian Owens and Marcie Laird, the second and third place winners, in my D.C. office. ”

The Congressional Art Competition was created in 1982 as an opportunity to showcase the talent of high school students and acknowledge gifted young artists. Hundreds of thousands of local high school students have been able to participate over the past three-plus decades.

Congressional Art Competition Winners for North Carolina’s Sixth District:

• 1st Place: Skyler Paschall, Self Portrait, Orange High School
• 2nd Place: Jillian Owens, The Innocence of the Predator, Orange High School
• 3rd Place: Marcie Laird, American Ballerina, Northwest Guilford High School
• Honorable Mentions:
  • Brian Booe, Walter M. Williams High School
  • Olivia Bene, Philip J. Weaver Academy
  • Carley Elliot, East Surry High School