14-05-2025
Lyndon sophomore is VT's 2025 Congressional Art Competition winner
RANDOLPH, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – For 44 years, United States representatives have chosen one young artist from each of their districts to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. This year, that honor will fall to a high school student from Caledonia County.
Vermont's at-large representative Becca Balint announced Friday that this year's winner is Xinyi Cassy Pan, a sophomore at Lyndon Institute in Lyndon Center, Vermont. Xinyi's teacher at the Institute is Elly Barksdale.
Representative Balint said, 'As a former teacher, as a mom, as a writer, I know how important it is to foster creativity, a love of the arts in our students, and to make it a continued priority in schools.
'I want to congratulate Xinyi for receiving the Grand Prize for her piece 'Awakening Through New Eyes' in this year's Congressional Art Competition. I'm so impressed by her work, and I look forward to seeing a piece of Vermont every day in the US Capitol.'
Artist creates local Vermont mural as part of a 50 state community project
Some representatives chose a special theme for the competition within their district, representing a vision or a focus for the following year. In Vermont, this year's special theme was 'Moments of Joy'. Additional awards were given to students from each of the 12 counties of Vermont, as well as several special prizes. Over 100 high school students from across the state submitted artwork to the competition.
The Congressional Art Competition was first held in 1982, and its leadership committee was co-chaired by Jim Jeffords, the representative and later senator for Vermont, from its inception until 1995. Artwork is displayed in the Cannon Tunnel connecting the Capitol to the Cannon House Office Building.
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