Marleigh Moore, a student at Rucekl Middle School in Niceville, is Okaloosa County’s winner of the Art in the Capitol competition.
Moore’s winning entry, “Peace,” was framed and given to State Representative Mel Ponder and will travel with him to Tallahassee to be displayed with the other school districts’ winning entries throughout the spring legislative session. A copy of her print will also be placed at the Okaloosa County School District office.
Art in the Capitol Competition is a statewide visual arts competition for students in grades 6 through 8. It is administered by the Department of Management Services (DMS) and the Department of Education (FDOE). Each school district annually holds a competition for all public, private, and home education students, with submissions judged by a selection committee consisting of art teachers whose students have not submitted artwork for consideration.

Judging took place the week of January 5 and the winner was chosen by professional art teachers at the high school level.