SOMERSET, KY -- U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) announced Madeline Frye, a junior at Southwestern High School as the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District. 

The national theme of this year's competition was Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary. Frye's winning artwork entitled, An American Grandmother, is a colored-pencil portrait of her great-grandmother making a quilt that features honeybees. It will hang in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year, representing Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District. 

"Maddie's artwork captures the essence of countless Appalachian grandmothers, highlighting the rich heritage of talented quilters and artisans from rural America," said Congressman Rogers. "The portrait of Maddie's great-grandmother will be proudly displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year, representing a small piece of our region as we celebrate America's 250 Anniversary."

"This piece represents something deeply personal to me. It portrays my great-grandmother, a woman whose strength, creativity, and kindness inspire both me and my family every day. She has always been an incredible artist in her own way, especially through quilting, which has long been a symbol of love, patience, and family tradition," said Frye, the winning student artist. "The quilt shown in this piece is a replica of one that she and her sisters made together. In Kentucky culture, quilting is something I have grown up seeing all around me, and through this portrait, I sought to honor both my great-grandmother and the values of our Kentucky home!"

As the winning artist for southern and eastern Kentucky, Frye will join the winners from every congressional district in Washington, D.C. for a national reception. Southwest Airlines offers two free airline tickets for students to attend the reception. 

The second-place winner is “Racing Toward Our Future” by Abigail Chase Harris from North Laurel High School in Laurel County. It is a digital drawing of a racehorse celebrating Future Farmers of America with the number 28 commemorating the year the organization was formed.  

The third-place winner is “Free or Not to Be” by Chloe Allen from Pikeville High School in Pike County. The mixed media artwork includes colored pencil, acrylic paint, watercolor, graphite and paint pens. The artist featured bright, multicolored birds and bees, symbolizing nature, beauty and freedom. 

All the student artwork is featured on Congressman Rogers' Facebook page. 

Students in 7th through 12th grades in Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District can participate in the Congressional Art Competition every year. The deadline for entries next year will be April 2027. 

For more information about Congressman Rogers' work in Washington and at home in Kentucky, visit halrogers.house.gov and follow him on social media. 

Maddie, her great-grandmother Vada Jean Huff, and Congressman Rogers

An American Grandmother - 1st Place
by Madeline Frye, Southwestern High School

Racing Toward Our Future - 2nd Place
by Abigail Chase Harris, North Laurel High School

Free or Not to Be - 3rd Place
by Chloe Allen, Pikeville High School