17-05-2025
Marianna High School freshman named Congressional Art Competition winner
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Kennedy Newsome will be taking a piece of Jackson County all the way to the U.S. Capitol.
The Marianna High School freshman was named one of the winners in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition.
Kennedy's drawing, depicting Marianna's historic Russ House, will hang in the U.S. Capitol for a year.
The 100-year-old Russ House now serves as Jackson County's visitor center.
She received a congratulatory call from the Second District's Congressman Neal Dunn.
'You submitted a piece of artwork for the congressional art competition this year, and I must say I jumped at it when I saw the sketch here. I said, 'Oh my god, I know that place.' It is a beautiful, beautiful rendering of the Russ House. I'm so pleased. And you won. You are the winner,' Dunn said via phone call.
'I'm really honored to have this opportunity. I know it means a lot. And I'm glad that I got picked out of everybody in the district. And I'm really excited to represent my community,' Kennedy said.
Kennedy is one of the youngest students from Marianna High School to ever receive the recognition.
'I was pretty excited for her, especially being a ninth grader. We've had some winners in the past, but they're usually seniors. So for her to do this once again as a ninth grader, it really lit me up because I haven't had that happen before with a student. I see great things for her and I feel fortunate to be able to work with her,' Marianna High Art Instructor Jerri Benton said.
Kennedy will be traveling to Washington, D.C. with her family in June to see her artwork hung in one of the most iconic buildings in the nation.
Kennedy and the other winners will attend the annual awards ceremony while they're in Washington.
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