Feb 06, 2022

Rawlins Co. student a winner in Kansas Day photo contest

Posted Feb 06, 2022 10:59 AM
"Wheat Field Beauty"  by Kaci Dirks, Rawlins County High School, Ludell, won first place in the 10th grade division of this year's "Happy Birthday, Kansas" student photo contest. (Photo by Kaci Dirks)
"Wheat Field Beauty"  by Kaci Dirks, Rawlins County High School, Ludell, won first place in the 10th grade division of this year's "Happy Birthday, Kansas" student photo contest. (Photo by Kaci Dirks)

Office of the Governor

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly has announced the winners in the "Happy Birthday, Kansas!" Student Photo Contest. Video messages and congratulations were released as part of the virtual announcement from Lieutenant Governor David Toland; Jennie Chinn, executive director of the Kansas Historical Society; and April Barker, representing the legislative spouses.

“These students captured what we all love about Kansas - and I am incredibly impressed by their remarkable skills," Governor Laura Kelly said. 

The statewide contest, now in its eighth year, invited students first through 12th grades to shoot photographs based on the theme, Favorite Place in Kansas in 2021. The contest received 506 entries from 38 Kansas counties.

The winners in the 2021 photo contest are as follows, and you can find their artwork here:

First grade:
First place: Estrella Segovia, “Enjoying the Weather,” Walnut Elementary, Emporia
Second place: Ella Strunk, “Ready for Christmas,” St. Andrew’s Elementary, Abilene

Second grade:
First place: Alisa Rud, “Yes, We Are Open!,” Andover eCademy, Andover
Second place: Naomi Martin, “4th of July Sunset,” Grand Star Elementary, Gardner

Third grade:
First place: Jarett Riley, “Washed Out Creekbed,” Canton-Galva Elementary, Galva
Second place: Amelia Higgins, “My Kansas Wishing Tree,” St. Mary’s Grade School, Salina

Fourth grade:
First place: Rebecca Barnhardt, “Beautiful Kansas Sky,” Lebo Elementary, Lebo
Second place: Jorja Beeman, “Cowboy Silhouette,” Madison Elementary, Hamilton

Fifth grade:
First place: Ashlynn Buchmann, “Countryside,” Riley County Grade School, Manhattan
Second place: Tanner Riley, “Bison at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge,” Canton-Galva Elementary, Galva

Sixth grade:
First place: Grayson Maxwell, “Sunflower in Kansas Wheat Field,” Larned Middle School, Larned
Second place: Kaden SinghDhillon, “Kansas is Sweet,” St. Marys Grade School, St. Marys

Seventh grade:
First place: Rachael Barnhardt, “Family Time Checking Cows” Lebo Junior High School, Lebo
Second place: Hazell Horsch, “There’s No Place Like Home,” Our Lady’s Haven, Haven

Eighth grade:
First place: Emerson Hoppes, “Carnival,” Canton-Galva Junior/Senior High School, Galva
Second place: Allie Kneisler, “Do You Hear Me?” Lyndon Middle School, Lyndon

Ninth grade:
First place: Harlee Tilley, “A Dandy Sunset,” Bucklin High School, Bucklin
Second place: Cora Schamp, “On a Walk with Walter,” Canton-Galva Junior/Senior High, Galva

10th grade:
First place: Kaci Dirks, “Wheat Field Beauty,” Rawlins County High School, Ludell
Second place: Regan Hedstrom, “Feeding Time,” Cheney High School, Cheney

11th grade:
First place: Johanna Walker, “Game,” Girard High School, Franklin
Second place: Kaitlin Schmidt, “Sundrops” Arkansas City High School, Arkansas City

12th grade:
First place: Eric Shapland, “Monument Rocks Chalk Pyramids,” Scott Community High School, Scott City
Second place: Gwen Van Leeuwen, “Keeper of the Plains,” Seaman High School, Topeka