24-04-2025
Louisianans honored for art, service at Community Awards Ceremony
BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition and Congressional Commendations were announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday.
United States House Speaker Mike Johnson was on hand to announce the artists whose work embodied 'The Spirit of Louisiana.'
'We just had an extraordinary event – we love to do this annually. We give out awards for people who really represent our communities well and do a lot of extraordinary work in all of our 20 parishes around the 4th Congressional District, which is the greatest district in America. There is of honor to give, and it is due,' Speaker Johnson said. 'It was a great day, and we love to do this event.'
2025 Congressional Art Competition Winners:
1st Place: 'Craw-Fever' by Grace Rougeau, Faith Training Christian Academy
2nd Place: 'Glow of the Magnolia' by Ava Agee, Airline High School
3rd Place: 'Serene' by Samirah Etienna, South Beauregard High School
4th Place: 'Bayou's Serenity' by EMantyi Mosby, Airline High School
Staff Pick: 'Beauty of the Swamp' by Jarei'Yuana Adams, Homer High School
Staff Pick: 'In Loving Memory' by Angela Smith, Simsboro High School
Among those who received commendations are Natalie Davis, a Haughton High School student, who worked to get girls' wrestling sanctioned by the LHSAA. Those who received commendations were submitted for consideration by constituents in Louisiana's Fourth Congressional District for their efforts to better their communities.
2025 Congressional Commendation Recipients:
Allen:
Patsy Cavenah, Founder and Director of Lighthouse Ministries
Beauregard:
Kenneth Harlow, DeRidder Fire Chief (30 years of service)
Bossier:
Natalie Davis, Haughton High School student, worked to get girls' wrestling sanctioned in Louisiana
Brad Zagone, Bossier City Fire Chief (30 years of service)
James 'Trey' Morriss, Mission Operation Squirrel, Director of Staff, Eighth Air Force & Joint-Global Strike Operations Center
Warren Ward, Mission Operation Squirrel, Executive Director, Louisiana Tech Research Institute
Lane Calloway, Barksdale Air Force Base Historian
Caddo:
Laurie Boswell, CEO of Holy Angels
Jacob Schneider, Caddo Magnet High School student, Eagle Scout, led a team from Shreveport to Tumutumu, Kenya to train 72 students in livestock management, farming skills needed to increase the yield of their family farms by 60%, and financial skills to market their produce and manage their money.
Bienville:
Deanna Curtis, Bienville Court Appointed Special Advocate, Chamber President, Victims for Youth Justice Board Member, and DART volunteer
Claiborne:
Pat Abshire, Claiborne Chamber President
Grant:
Bonita Armour, created an after-school program for Grant Parish youth
Jackson:
Wilda Smith, Secretary and Treasurer for the Jackson Parish Museum Board, Jackson Parish Tourism, Jackson Parish Cancer Board, Jonesboro Hodge Lions Club Board, Secretary Jackson Parish Industrial District Board, and the Treasurer Jackson Parish Study Guild
Lincoln:
Sam Mattox, the oldest-living WWII veteran in Louisiana, is turning 106 this year
Ouachita:
Roy Heatherly, Ouachita Chamber President
Sabine:
Crystal Hable, dedicated to service and organization of events in community
Blake Byles, organizes hunting trips for disabled children and veterans
Union:
Axton Nolan, 2025 U.S. Service Academy Appointee, United States Air Force Academy
Vernon:
Melinda Granger, School teacher of 36 years at Rosepine High School
Webster:
Jerry Madden, Minden Lion, veteran, past Minden Man of the Year
The first-place winner in the art contest will have her art displayed in the Capitol, and the second-place artist's work will adorn Speaker Johnson's congressional offices.
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