JACKSONVILLE – Clay High senior Audrey Milligan will have her watercolors on display all around Northeast Florida after two of her pieces won awards last week.

U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) selected her artwork titled “UNBOTTLED” as the Clay County finalist in the Congressional Art Competition for Florida’s Fourth Congressional District. He made the announcement at a ceremony at the airport on April 23.

This year’s theme was “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Art.” Her painting will be on display at the Student Gallery at the Jacksonville International Airport from May 13 through July 31.

“Since the early days of our founding, art has been essential to the creation of America’s character. Even George Washington noted that it is the duty of every good citizen to encourage the arts,” Bean said. “These young artists submitted bold, dynamic, and thought-provoking artwork that showcased just how talented our Northeastern Florida high school students are. And I believe that if Washington was here with us, he would agree that our students have fulfilled their duties and enriched our district's legacy.”

Andie Crawford of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts was the overall winner. Paxon School for Advanced Studies’ Noel Ethridge won for Duval County, while Fernandina Beach High’s Lillian Logsdon won for Nassau.

Each spring, the House of Representatives and the Congressional Institute sponsor a nationwide competition as an opportunity for high school students to showcase their talents. Students from Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties submitted their artwork for the competition, and local professionals judged them.

Another one of Milligan’s pieces won an Award for Excellence at the Clay County Art Show at the Thrasher-Horne Center last weekend. This one portrayed a girl wearing headphones.

It will join other ribbon-winners from the county show in the Art in the Courthouse display in June at the Clay County Courthouse.