
At last night's BOE meeting, 12th grade student, Lily Wagner, was recognized for her 1st place Congressional Arts Award where her winning artwork will be displayed at the US Capitol.
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. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.
Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.
Each spring, members of the U.S. House of Representatives offer high school students in their districts the opportunity to compete to have their artwork displayed in the Cannon Tunnel, which connects the U.S. Capitol to the Cannon House Office Building. The competition provides an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation. The competition is open to high school students only.
Lily Wagner - Received 1st Place
Lily said that while at Hicksville High School, the art classes that she has taken have pushed her to explore new mediums and materials that have aided in the exploration of creating her own artistic voice. With encouragement from her art teacher, Mr. Mateyunas, she has entered her work into a number of competitions. The Heckscher Museum’s Long Island’s Best competitions, the Nassau County Art Guild and the Congressional Art competition are just to name a few. Lily has had her art featured in the Long Island’s Best exhibitions in 2021 and 2022, where her piece was chosen to be in the Firefly Gallery in Northport, as well as the 2021 Nassau County High School Art Show at the Art Guild where she has received a Best in Show Award.

Left to Right: Brenda Judson, BOE President, Craig Mateyunas, Art Teacher, Lily Wagner and family, Raymond Williams, HS Principal, Marianne Litzman, Superintendent of Schools, and Chad Wyman, Supervisor of Fine Arts
