An area student’s art will be on display in the nation’s capital for a year after she took home top honors in the 2020 Mississippi Congressional Art Competition.

Sonia Matrick, a junior visual student from Crystal Springs, received the overall award for her work entitled “Frustration.” Her art will hang in the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. for the next year. 

Several other visual students at The Mississippi School of the Arts captured awards in the competition, sponsored by Congressman Michael Guest. The event is held each year, highlighting the artistic talents of students state-wide.

Additional MSA students receiving awards are:

Paintings

Second place: Skylar Noblin-Laminack, a Senior from Edwards.

Third place: Caleb Donegan, a Junior from Gulfport.

Mixed Media

First place: MaryRhea Waterloo, a Junior from Brookhaven.

Photography

First place: Skylar Noblin-Laminack, a Senior from Edwards.

Prints

Third place: Kathy Nguyen, a Senior from Hattiesburg.

Computer Generated Art

First place: Ashlyn Moore, a Senior from Collins.

Second place: Isabella Gandy, a Junior from Southaven.

Third place: Abrielle Carnathan, a junior from Tupelo.

MSA is an 11th and 12th grade visual and performing arts residential, public high school located in Brookhaven.  Students not only meet and exceed the traditional Mississippi high school curriculum, they receive special instruction in visual arts, vocal music, dance, literary arts, filmmaking/media arts and theatre.

MSA will conduct additional auditions for the 2020/2021 school year in Dance, Filmmaking, Theatre and Vocal Music. Tenth graders apply online by June 3.

In addition to MSA students consistently winning awards for their work on the state, regional and national levels, the school holds the third highest ACT average in the state. For additional information, visit www.msabrookhaven.org