San Lorenzo Valley High School’s Finn Maxwell has earned Honorable Mention for Composition in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for the mixed-media piece “Sapere Aude.”
Maxwell, who graduated in June and served as 2025-26 Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate, was one of seven students recognized in this year’s contest, which drew 33 original submissions from high school students across California’s 19th Congressional District.
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta recently announced the winners of the annual competition.
“The immense talent we saw on display showcases the unparalleled beauty of our district and unique talent of our students in California’s 19th Congressional District,” Panetta said. “This contest also illustrates the importance of arts education and programming for our youth as a means of self-expression and of opening students to new skills, ideas and interests.”
The Congressional Art Competition is a nationwide tradition that began in 1982. Since then, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Each spring, congressional offices select a winning piece to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. First-place winners and a family member are invited to Washington, D.C., for a ceremony recognizing their achievement.
This year’s first-place winner was Adelaide Strom of Pacific Grove High School for her piece, “Adelaide in Aubergine,” which will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol alongside winning entries from congressional districts across the country.
“I look forward to seeing Adelaide’s artwork on display in the U.S. Capitol, with a deep sense of pride for all the young people that I have the privilege of representing,” Panetta said. “Our community and our democracy are built upon the commitment of the next generation, whether it’s through service, art or political engagement.”
Other winners included Katherine Zhu of Leland High School, second place, for “Passengers of Life”; Emma Wang of Leland High School, third place, for “My Wish”; Stella Rae Thelen of Pacific Collegiate School, Honorable Mention for Design, for “Hidden Mind”; Jessamine Sloan of Leland High School, Honorable Mention for Technique, for “Our Beginning”; and Clara Latham of Soquel High School, Honorable Mention for Story Telling, for “I’d Be Fine.”
