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Cecily Salas, a recent graduate of the New Braunfels High School Class of 2023, has been selected as the overall winner from the Office of Congressman Greg Casar in District 35 in the Congressional Art Competition. As part of the honor, her artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year and she is invited to attend a reception in Washington D.C. this summer and be celebrated as one of the congressional winners.

“I also think this opportunity to have my artwork displayed in such an important and historic place is such an honor,” said Salas. ”It’s still a shock to me even when I think about it to this day.”

“Cecily is amazing and a dedicated student who always strives for the best,” said NBHS Art Teacher Becky McDavitt. “I have loved having her for the past three years, watching her grow and mature as an artist. She has an amazing attention to detail and is a master of her medium, color pencils. This makes my heart happy to know she will be honored for the thing she loves most, art.”

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our congressional district. 

When asked about her love of art and her inspiration for this winning piece of artwork, Salas shared that “what I love about art is how it forces me to be creative and think outside the box in order for me to make something I’m happy with. It also gives me great confidence to say that I made something out of nothing. What inspired this winning piece of artwork was experiencing high school. These 4 precious years are a time for teenagers to express and explore their personalities, likes, and dislikes. The development of who we are in the next chapter in our lives.” 

While attending NBHS Salas received Student of the Month for November 2022, Certificate of Achievement for the Visual Art Scholastic Event, 1st place for her drawing at the New Braunfels Art League, 3rd place for the Dia De Los Muertos Art Contest, and winning the Tri-Color Award for the Comal County Fair Art Contest.

Her plans after graduation are to attend Baylor University to major in Studio Art. She intends to earn her bachelor’s degree, masters, and Ph.D. She hopes to one day teach as a professor at New York University.