Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Tom Emmer announced Sophia Panelli of Circle Pines as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District. 

“Congratulations to Sophia on winning this year’s Congressional Art Competition for her painting Summer Memories. We are always impressed by the artistic promise shown by students in our district, and Sophia’s submission is one of the best we have seen yet,” Congressman Emmer said.

Sophia is an artist and a sophomore at Centennial High School in Circle Pines. Her acrylic painting, Summer Memories, was selected as the winning submission from Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District. She is a student of Centennial High School Art Teacher Johanna Miers.

The Congressional Art Competition is an annual competition for high school students across the United States. The winning pieces from each district will be hung by the Architect of the Capitol in the tunnel connecting the U.S. Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building for a year. The winner from each Congressional District receives the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with their Representative and see their artwork displayed in the Halls of Congress. You can read more about the competition here.

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