For South Florida eleventh grader Nakeya Wilson, painting is her passion. A passion fueled by talent that helped Wilson, a student at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, beat out 75 other students to win the Congressional Art Competition for District 17, which is represented by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson.
“I strongly believe we must not only encourage the fundamentals of learning like reading, writing and mathematics, but the creative talents of our students through the arts,” said Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, a long time advocate for children. The Congresswoman, a former school principal and school board member, founded the 5000 Roles Models of Excellence Program, a mentoring and scholarship program that has resulted in hundreds of young men getting college educations.
As the first place winner, for the District 17 Congressional Art Competition, Nakeya and her mother, Elaine, flew to Washington, D.C., on June 20, 2012. Nakeya joined hundreds of other Congressional Art Competition winners from around the country, for a reception. Nakeya’s artwork entitled “Tupac Shakur” will be displayed for an entire year at the Cannon building in the Nation’s Capitol along with the other winners.
“It was an experience of a lifetime,” says Nakeya.
During her visit to Washington Nakeya got to visit with Congresswoman Wilson, who welcomed Nakeya and her mother with open arms and encourage her to pursue her dreams. A dream of being an artist that has already brought national recognition and promises to take her to heights beyond her imagination.
On May 24, Nakeya was named the winner of the Congressional Art Competition during an art show and awards ceremony held by Congresswoman Wilson at the Adrienne Arsht Center.
Seventy-six high school students, representing schools throughout District 17 competed in this year’s Congressional Art Competition and submitted eighty-five pieces of art; in the form of paintings, drawings, collages, prints, mixed media, computer-generated art and photography. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 and is held nationwide to recognize and encourage the artistic talent of high school students in the nation and in each congressional district.
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