The drawing “Jaguar King” by Hill City High School student Amanda Kessler is “King” of the 2013 Kansas First Congressional District High School Arts Competition.

Kessler received her “Best of Show” award from Congressman Tim Huelskamp himself who was in Russell at the Deines Cultural Center, host site for Saturday afternoon’s presentation of this year’s contest.

More than 100 pieces of art were submitted by students from Hill City, Osborne, Wheatland and Little River High Schools.   The entries in drawing, painting, collage, print, mixed media, computer-generated art and photography were judged by Lee Powers, Fort Hays State University Art Department Chairman.

First and second place awards were given in each of the seven categories.  Huelskamp, who is from Fowler in southwest Kansas, presented each award and posed for pictures with the winning artists.

Kessler’s “Best of Show Jaguar King” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, alongside the winning works from the other congressional districts.

The Congressional Institute sponsors the annual nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.