Mtn. Grove High School senior Jessie Carruthers has been named the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for Missouri’s 8th Congressional District.
Congressman Jason Smith announced the honor, noting that Carruthers' winning charcoal drawing, entitled “Holding On,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for the next year. As the district's winner, Carruthers will receive two plane tickets to Washington, D.C., to view her artwork on display.
“I can’t thank the more than 100 high school artists enough who submitted their artwork for this year’s Congressional Art Competition,” Smith said. “I look forward to this competition every year because the level of talent across southeast and south central Missouri never ceases to amaze me — and this year was no different. The amount of detail in Jessie’s charcoal drawing was astounding, and I’m excited for it to represent Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District.”
The nationwide competition, sponsored each spring by the Congressional Institute, is designed to recognize and encourage artistic talent in each congressional district. Since the program began in 1982, millions of visitors have viewed more than 10,000 winning pieces displayed in the U.S. Capitol.
Several other students from the local region were recognized among the top 20 finalists in the 8th District. Area finalists include Salome Martinez Serrano, Brylie Orsborn and Emily Ritter of West Plains; Madalyn Jarrett, Evelynn Peterson and Rehanna Turner of Mtn. Grove; and Lilly Kinkaid of Houston.
Other regional finalists representing the district included students from Arcadia Valley, Fredericktown, Portageville and Rolla.
