{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://sewell.house.gov/2023/5/rep-sewell-announces-winner-of-the-2023-congressional-art-competition-for-alabama-s-7th-congressional-district", "Rep. Sewell Announces Winner of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for Alabama\u2019s 7th Congressional District", "2023-05-19", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri A. Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", "sewell", "https://sewell.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Tuscaloosa, AL \u2013 U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced the winner of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for Alabama's 7th Congressional District. The announcement was made at a virtual reception held Wednesday night during which Sewell joined participants to celebrate the 58 entries submitted by talented students from across the 7th District. Perri Payne, an 11th grader at Paul W. Bryant High School in Cottondale, was awarded first place for her submission entitled \"A Glimpse Into the Future.\"\n\n\u201cEvery year, I am amazed by the incredible talent of our students here in Alabama\u2019s 7th Congressional District, and this year is no exception!\u201d said Rep. Sewell. \u201cCongratulations to our first place winner, Perri Payne, who did a wonderful job capturing our theme, \u2018Reimagine Alabama.\u2019 Her piece speaks to the power of young people to change the future of our state. I am so proud of Perri and all of the talented young artists who participated.\u201d\n\n\u201cI feel like this piece represents how I felt as a Black girl growing up in Alabama and how I imagined it,\u201d said First Place Winner Perri Payne. \u201cI protested it by drawing a young Black girl with Alabama in her palms to represent how Alabama is in the hands of the next generation and what we do now represents the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am incredibly proud of Perri,\u201d said Ms. Olivia Williams, Art Teacher at Paul W. Bryant High School. \u201cShe has grown so much as an artist in the two years I have been fortunate enough to have her in my class. Her ability to create work that is meaningful, personal, and skillfully executed is beyond her years. She has so much natural talent and it\u2019s been an honor to help her find a voice in her work. I hope she understands how big of an accomplishment this is, and that she feels encouraged and supported in everything she does in her future.\u201d\n\nPayne\u2019s artwork will be matted, framed, and displayed in the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. for one year. She and a guardian will receive roundtrip airfare to Washington D.C. to attend the National Congressional Art Competition Reception.\n\nThe other students that placed were:\n\n2nd Place - \u201cSouthern Roots\u201d by Onda McKnight, 8th grader at the Capitol School in Tuscaloosa\n\n3rd Place - \u201cSerenity\u201d by Isabella Dennison, 11th grader at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery\n\nHonorable Mention - \u201cThe City Through My Eyes\u201d by Laila Gray, 11th grader at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://sewell.house.gov/2023/5/rep-sewell-announces-winner-of-the-2023-congressional-art-competition-for-alabama-s-7th-congressional-district"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.491146955639124, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}