---
title: "Local Student Wins Congressional Art Competition"
date: 2025-05-27
author: "Laurie Stroud"
featured_image: "https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Meg-with-Drawing.jpeg"
categories:
  - name: "Education"
    url: "/category/news/education.md"
tags:
  - name: "Featured"
    url: "/tag/featured.md"
  - name: "Featured - Education"
    url: "/tag/featured-education.md"
---

# Local Student Wins Congressional Art Competition

**Education Extra**

In May, Alabama Representative Gary Palmer (AL-06) announced Meg Goodsell from [Evangel Classical Christian School](https://birminghamchristian.com/school/evangel-classical-christian-school/) as the winner of the Sixth District’s Congressional Art Competition. “We had a very talented group of students from all across the district participate in this year’s Congressional Art Competition. I’m impressed by each student’s hard work and dedication to their craft,” said Rep. Palmer. “Congratulations to Meg on winning the competition this year. I hope she continues to use her talent to create more art in the future.”

[![Meg with Drawing](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Meg-with-Drawing-275x300.jpeg "Meg with Drawing")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Meg-with-Drawing.jpeg)[Evangel Classical Christian School](https://birminghamchristian.com/school/evangel-classical-christian-school/) student Meg Goodsell is seen here with her winning artwork “Answered Prayer.”**Behind the Drawing.** Goodsell says of her drawing, “In this narrative drawing, I sought to express a metaphor for prayer as God reaches down to meet His people who call to Him in their need. I was inspired by the expressive quality in which John Singer Sargent paints the hands of his subjects, and I wanted to imitate Sargent’s ability to express both emotion and intention in simple gestures. The photo references of my hands used for this drawing were taken by a classmate.”

Goodsell’s artwork titled “Answered Prayer” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year! Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and a panel of artists in the sixth district selects the winning entry. A virtual gallery of all entries from the Sixth District can be viewed on Rep. Palmer’s website, [www.palmer.house.gov](http://www.palmer.house.gov) and Facebook page, [www.facebook.com/CongressmanGaryPalmer](http://www.facebook.com/CongressmanGaryPalmer). Congratulations Meg on winning the competition this year! †