Hialeah Gardens High School student Neeley Camejo, 16, of Hialeah, won the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for the 26th Congressional District of Florida, a seat held by U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Doral.
Neeley’s painting, called Reverence in the Currents: An Esoteric Wonder, was chosen from among 175 entries submitted by students in 16 schools, the congressman’s office said.
Created with alcohol markers, watercolors, acrylic paints and markers, it will hang in a tunnel at the U.S. Capitol for a year. His art teacher is Haydee Fernandez Salazar.
“The inspiration behind it came after a visit to Pinecrest Gardens and seeing the koi fish there,” Neeley said. “Seeing it hanging in the Capitol inspired me. Art is a way of communicating yourself, as a person. I never expected to be there. I’m super happy.”
He is the son of Lilyana Hernandez and Neeley Camejo, Sr., grandson of Adriana Camejo and brother of Nicole Camejo.