May 5, 2025
Typically, Ella Strudthoff winces when she gets the dreaded call to the main office at Gilbert High School?
What did I do? That’s the first thing that usually runs through her mind.
She may have to change her thinking though. The last two calls she’s received have been pretty memorable, and in a good way.
The first one occurred when her boyfriend, Ames resident Luke Standfest, surprised her at school upon his return from a trip with the Iowa National Guard. And the most recent? Well, that one involved Standfest as well.
Last week, Ella, a Gilbert High School senior, was met in the main office by her mom, Gilbert Elementary first-grade teacher Stephanie Strudthoff, and GHS art teacher Jen Maguire with a surprise that put a big smile on her face.
It put a smile on all of our faces, actually.
Ella learned she was the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District for her artwork entitled, “Reunion,” which is a pencil drawing she created from a photo of her and Standfest reuniting last August following a long absence while Standfest trained at Fort Sill just north of Lawton, Oklahoma.
“I hadn’t seen him for three months,” Ella said of the emotional reunion that led to her drawing. “If we were lucky, we got to talk over the phone for 15 or 20 minutes a week. It was the first time we’d seen each other since June.
“This was the second time this year I got called to the office where I thought I was in trouble. But this was a great surprise. I was really excited.”
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull), who represents Iowa’s 4th District, made the official announcement of Ella’s achievement Monday morning. Ben Waddle and Ella Grail of Ames High School, along with Autumn Bousema from Unity Christian High School, where announced as runners-up for the award.
In a press release, Rep. Feenstra praised Ella’s work, which will hang in Washington D.C. over the next year.
“This piece — which depicts a military couple embracing — was especially moving to me as members of the Iowa National Guard will embark on an active-duty deployment at the end of May,” Rep. Feenstra said. “It is important that we keep our soldiers and their loved ones in our prayers while they serve our country abroad.”
Ella says she hadn’t done any in-depth drawings for several years, but after receiving a copy of the photo she knew it was a project she wanted to tackle. Over several months, she worked on it during Success Center.
“I hadn’t done any drawing since my freshman year and I just wanted to get back into it, and that was one of the photos I chose,” Ella said. “When it was done, I didn’t think it was the best I’ve done, to be honest. I didn’t think it looked bad, but it didn’t wow me either.”
It certainly wowed the congressman.
Ella, who will attend DMACC to study criminal justice in the fall, will travel to Washington D.C. in early June to take part in a ceremony honoring the Congressional Art Competition. Clearly talented, Ella says she hopes to continue art in some capacity in college.
“I really like it,” she said. “I’m not majoring or minoring in art, but if there’s time in my schedule I’d like to take a class or two.”
We want to offer our congratulations to Ella on this tremendous honor. Your artwork is amazing and we are all incredibly proud of you!
