MULLEN—She’s an award winning artist, a skilled volleyball player, one of the top air rifle shooters in the country, and nothing seems to hold her back.
Gracie Hoyt of Mullen was recently recognized by Congressman Adrian Smith for her second place win in the 2019 Congressional Art Competition for the Third District of Nebraska.
Hoyt’s pencil drawing “Sadie” will be displayed in Washington D.C. during the upcoming year. Gracie will be a senior at Mullen Public Schools next year and she is the daughter of Kyle and Denise Hoyt.
Mullen art teacher, and also Gracie’s dad, Kyle Hoyt said Gracie has worked hard to improve her skills in so many different areas and said she is a “pretty motivated young lady.” Gracie’s drawing is of the Hoyt’s three-year-old daughter Sadie and they also have a seventh grade daughter, Isabelle.
As if her widespread talent was not enough, Gracie continues to succeed and prove to people she can do anything; Gracie was born with short arms and three fingers on each hand. Kyle Hoyt said Gracie spent a lot of time at children’s hospitals when she was younger but has since continued to grow and thrive in the activities she’s passionate about.
“She’s spent most of her life, you know, adapting and or adjusting to things but she’s never been afraid to try anything and, you know, we have to adjust so she can maneuver things a different way but we’ve always seemed to find a way for her to do whatever she would like,” Kyle Hoyt said.
Gracie began playing volleyball in third grade and learned how to serve with her feet and use her head and knees. She began shooting competitively at age 8 in 4-H with NRA approved modifications to her air rifle, and now Gracie drives a car that is adapted.
“You tell me I can’t do it and I’ll find a way to do it. If you can’t do it, find a different way,” Gracie said. “It isn’t a disability to me anymore.”
When it comes to art, Gracie said pencil drawing is her favorite but she also enjoys painting, color drawings, and printmaking. She loves to try new methods in art and was thrilled to find out she had come in second place in the Congressional Art Competition.
“Oh, when I got that phone call I was very surprised! I had actually sent it in a while ago and I actually had kind of forgotten we had sent it in because it was at another art show too. So it got back from there, I got a phone call, and I was really surprised to get that phone call but really happy that I got it. It’s something that is very unique and awesome and I’ve never done that before so it was a first-time deal but [I’m] super excited,” Gracie Hoyt said.
In an interview with KCNI/KBBN, Gracie said upon finishing high school she plans to study art and graphic design at Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte.
About the Congressional Art Competition
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.
Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.
